Rakti

More info on rakti

When Stephen moved to Newmarket to work for O.A Curtis and Sons in the August of 2003 he was given the responsibility of being farrier for the powerful Michael Jarvis stable.

 

The Jarvis stable was home to many high-class horses but none more so than the sometimes volatile but highly talented Rakti. 

 

Stephen recalls “Rakti was this powerhouse of a horse, he had a incredible aura about him but I always found him easy and gentle to work with when I shod him. Looking back now I can’t believe how lucky I was to work with a horse like him so early in my career”.

 

Less than two months after Stephen’s arrival Rakti powered up the 10-furlong straight of Newmarket’s Champion Stakes and became the first Group-1 winning horse Stephen had shod. Rakti would finish the year with a fine second to Falbrav in the Hong Kong Cup.

 

In 2004 he added the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot before returning to the same track later in the year to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over the straight mile.

 

Rakti was at times over enthusiastic when racing a trait that no doubt cost him many more victories. However when he was good he was brilliant. A fine example of this was when he smashed Newbury’s long held track record over the mile in the Lockinge Stakes in his 1st start of 2005.

 

Stephen originally had a two-year plan to stay in Newmarket before returning home to Ireland. Rakti changed that plan, it was largely through him that Stephen fell in love with the Sport of Kings and has remained in Newmarket, the Home of Racing, ever since.

 

Trainer: Bruno Grizetti, Michael Jarvis   

Sire: Polish Precedent

Dam: Ragera

 

Owner: Gary A Tanaka

 

Major Wins:

•Champion Stakes (2003)

•Prince of Wales's Stakes (2004)

•Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2004)

•Lockinge Stakes (2005)

 

Awards:

 

World Champion Miler (2004)