Rakti Roars to Lockinge Triumph

• Print

Jockey Philip Robinson guided the 6-year-old Rakti to the front early and went on to a five-length romp and a Newbury track record in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I) Saturday.

Rakti, the powerhouse son of Polish Precedent, bulled his way to the lead after a furlong was run and was never headed, completing the one-mile event in 1:33.59 for his sixth group I triumph. Rakti took a remarkable 1.6 seconds off the previous course mark.

Mike Jarvis trains the winner, who was the 7-4 choice in the field of eight, for owner Gary Tanaka.

Mac Love, a 50-1 outsider, chased the winner to the final two furlongs when left behind, but held on for second by a length over the Irish-bred Hurricane Alan, who edged Australian invader Elvstroem by a neck for third.

Robinson changed tactics with Rakti, who usually runs in hand, for the Lockinge after talking it over with Jarvis.

"I discussed this with Philip and he said he would switch off in front," Jarvis told Racing Post. "He knows the horse best, and was absolutely right. He works on his own at home, and settled much better in front than he would have done behind. He always runs well fresh and was different class."

On a perfect course, the first seven horses all finished faster than the previous track record.

"He's a wonderful racehorse," said Jarvis, who was able to put Rakti's disappointing Far East campaign last winter behind him.

"We were fully prepared to withdraw him here if the forecast rain had arrived, but the ground was perfect. The Queen Anne at Royal Ascot at York is the logical next step, provided the ground is not soft."

Beyond that, Jarvis said the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) at Belmont Park is Rakti's long-term goal.

Arakan, Le Vie Dei Colori, Grand Emporium and Antonious Pius completed the order.

• Print