 Rakti won at last year's Royal Ascot |
Rakti strolled to victory in his seasonal debut in the Group One Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Jockey Philip Robinson had the Michael Jarvis-trained 7-4 favourite in front not long after the start.
And none of his rivals ever looked like catching him as he pulled well clear in the final furlong.
Mac Love, a 50-1 outsider, ran on well for second with Hurricane Alan third, but they were not in the same league as Rakti, who set a new course record.
Australian raider Elvstroem was the quickest away but Robinson soon had Rakti in front as the six-year-old took a keen hold.
The jockey managed to get him swinging along, though, and the result never looked in doubt after he upped a gear coming to the two-furlong marker.
Elvstroem and Mac Love tried to go with him, but the Rakti soon had them trailing in his wake as he accelerated away to win by five lengths.
A delighted Robinson said: "This just shows how good he is on his day. This is the best horse I've sat on - and I've been on some good ones.
"If we can keep him in that frame of mind, he's a very hard horse to beat."
MMIX
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