Hong Kong Breeders Club Buys Breeding Interest in Rakti

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Edited press release
The Hong Kong Breeders Club has purchased a 10% shareholding in six-time group I winner Rakti, who is set to retire to Huma Park Stud in Ireland for the 2006 breeding season.

Rakti, whose final start is likely to come in the grade I Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Dec. 11, boasts a racing record that few modern-day performers could rival, earning £1.85 million (around HK$26.5 million) in prize money so far during his career.

At three he won the group I Italian Derby when trained in Italy by Bruno Grizzetti and moved to Michael Jarvis the following year, when he enjoyed group I successes in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket and the Premio Presidente della Repubblica in Rome. He also finished runner-up to Nayef in the group I Prince Of Wales‚s Stakes at Royal Ascot and to Falbrav in the group I Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.

Last year he captured the group I Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and went back to Ascot later in 2004 to enjoy a further group I victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In his seasonal debut this year in the group I Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May. Rakti rolled to a five-length success and lowered the mile course record at Newbury by no less than 1.04 seconds. In his most recent start, Rakti finished second to Valixir in the group I Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at York.

The Hong Kong Breeders Club is set to be officially launched Sept. 6 and John McGrath, the HKBC racing manager, said: "Rakti is an exceptional good looker and mover in the traditional mould and has received his highest British Horseracing Board rating of 124 this year. Winning his two latest group I's over a mile, having won his other four Group 1s over longer distances is truly phenomenal."

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