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Murray Bell

Jarvis says his stable star is back in form after victory in the QE II Stakes at Ascot

Trainer Michael Jarvis has declared for a second crack at the $18 million Hong Kong Cup in December with Rakti, who  returned to top form in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot against Europe's best milers. Rakti is better known as a specialist at the Cup distance of 2,000 metres and had never even raced at a mile previously.

But the Polish Precedent horse arrogantly disposed of the high-class opposition and set himself up for more international competition in the next two months.

Rakti was an original entry for the WS Cox Plate in Melbourne on October 23, in which he would have clashed with Hong Kong's Elegant Fashion.

Rakti and Elegant Fashion filled the minor placings in last year's Hong Kong Cup, behind champion Falbrav, who handed in the highest individual rating in the history of racing at Sha Tin.

In the wake of the Ascot victory, Jarvis said he now had a host of options to consider, including the Breeders' Cup Mile at Lone Star Park in Texas on October 30 and the Japan Cup in late November, in addition to the jewel in the crown of Cathay Pacific international day in Hong Kong.

After a blip on his scoresheet in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, Rakti was awesome in the way he regained the sort of form that saw him win the Prince of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs at Royal Ascot for two-time champion Hong Kong jockey Philip Robinson.

'Rakti loves Ascot, but he is a horse of moods and I was delighted to get here today and find that he was in one of his better moods,' Jarvis told PA Sport.

'He is fine at home, but he can get very wound up at the races and he is like an elastic band. You know that he is going to snap, and it is just a matter of waiting and praying, so it was such a relief when everything went smoothly.

'You had to be impressed with the way in which he put daylight between himself and the others when he kicked off the bend.'

Jarvis continued: 'I always thought that he had the speed to win a championship race over a mile and this victory increases his value as a stallion enormously.'

The trainer said he would speak with owner Gary Tanaka about the various options for Rakti later this week.

However, he all but ruled out a repeat tilt at the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket, which he brilliantly won on the way to Sha Tin last year.

'Running in the Champion Stakes would mean him having run three times in five weeks, and I don't think that's on,' Jarvis said. 'It is certainly our intention to finish up in Hong Kong again. He ran so well against Falbrav there last year.'

Jarvis also hinted that Rakti may stay in training as a six-year-old next season as connections mull over the future of a one of the world's most gifted racehorses.

In an interesting precedent, Falbrav also won the QEII at Ascot last year, before contesting the Breeders Cup Turf in which he didn't quite stay the 2,400 metres at the end of a less-than-patient Darryl Holland ride.

Frankie Dettori took over on Falbrav at Sha Tin, with the Fairy King stallion turning in a performance that is forever burned into the memory of those privileged to witness it.



Rakti to have another crack at HK Cup