One of the best European racehorses ever to make his way to Victoria, Rakti boasts outstanding international performance and a fascinating pedigree.

He is a son of the Prix Jacques le Marois-Gr.1/Prix du Moulin de Longchamp-Gr.1 winning Danzig stallion Polish Precedent who, during a highly successful stud career, sired 28 stakes winners.

One line to have crossed very well with Polish Precendent is Mill Reef (in particular Darshaan and Shirley Heights) and mares boasting a strain of that legendary stallion are extremely suitable for Rakti whose dam Ragera is a descendant of Mill Reef's ancestress Lady Brilliant – as is her grandsire Blushing Groom.

The more of this family in the pedigree the better and with this in mind seek mares boasting a presence of its members Khaled or Pipe Of Peace or consider for him daughters of Saarond, Red Anchor, Canonise, Blu Tusmani, Mister C, Western Symphony, Fuji Kiseki and High Reserve.

One stallion worth mentioning here is Blevic whose grandam is by Mill Reef. The bonus is his sire Scenic whose grandam Where You Lead (Musidora Stakes) is also the grandam of Rainbow Quest.

Strains of Where You Lead can also be found in daughters of Warning or his sons such as Charnwood Forest and Piccolo.

Another good reason to send your Scenic mare to Rakti is that Scenic’s dam sire What A Pleasure is a son of the wonderful mare Grey Flight – also grandam of Polish Precedent’s second dam sire Bold Lad.

Grey Flight has proven an excellent line-breeding subject, Gr.1 winning examples including Adjudi Mitsuo, Colonial Minstrel, Diplomat Lady, Hasna, Louis Quatorze, Priolo, Snowland, Spartacus and Sublimate.

Grey Flight can also be found in daughters of Snippets (and those of his sons such as Spartacus, Picnicker, Pins, High Rolling, Akhenaton, Snowland), Tale Of The Cat, Gilded Time and Snaadee.

Grey Flights US Champion 3Y0 Filly daughter Misty Morn (also US Broodmare Of The Year) meanwhile can be duplicated by sending to Rakti mares by Secret Savings, Dash For Cash, Exit Five B, Lonhro or Sedaka.

Line-breeding to Northern Dancer is also a viable option for Rakti – particularly via Lyphard who has been represented in Australasia by the likes of Dahar, Rainbows For Life, Phar Feather, Rare Pearl and Alzao. The Polish Precedent/Lyphard cross has fared very well as has Lyphard with Rainbow Quest.

Star Kingdom must always be discussed in relation to Australian based stallions who are always likely to cover a large number of mares from that line. Fortunately for Australian breeders Danzig has crossed very well with Star Kingdom – in particular the Kaoru Star and Biscay branches.

Marscay line mares are of particular interest, his grandam closely line-bred to the Hopeful/Spinaway Stakes winner Bee Mac via Beau Max and Better Self. Polish Precedent boasts an extra strain of the latter.

Another mare worth duplicating is the influential Plucky Liege to whom Rakti is line-bred via her famed sons Bull Dog and Sir Gallahad III. A study of Polish Precedent’s best progeny suggests he picks up strongly with further strains via her other sons Bois Roussel and Admiral Drake. Fappiano is also a descendant.

La Troienne – to whom Polish Precedent’s dam is closely line-bred via Buckpasser and Bimelech is also worthy of further duplication. Look for strains of her descendants Woodman, Mr Busher, Busher, Boucher, Great Captain, Cohoes, Poker, Private Account, The Axe II, Caerleon, Noble Bijou, Jet Action and Pleasant Tap.

Broodmare sires such as Rhythm, More Than Ready, Polish Navy, Yonder, Air de France, Hula Chief, Hula Drum, Don't Say Halo and Chem are also of interest – all being members of the La Troienne clan.

Rakti’s third dam Christine is line-bred to another prominent mare in Aurora through her sons Borealis and Alycidon. Look for her other sons Agricola and Acropolis and note that the Gr.1 winners Belele, Brave Show, Clangalang, Fairway, Grout, Horlicks, Little Jamie, Mr Brooks, Popsy, Seamist and Travel Light all boast duplications of Aurora.

English 2000 Guineas heroine Picture Play is also worth line-breeding to. She appears in Rakti’s pedigree via her great grandson Crocket and can also be found in daughters of Demus, Tarnpir Lane, Lago Delight and Dantibes – or in any mares with a presence of Red Gauntlet.

Her classy daughter Queen Of Light meanwhile can be duplicated using mares by North Reef, Carry The Flag, Desert Prince, Hemingway, Song Of Tara, Ihtiram and Marju – or in any mares boasting a strain of Welsh Pageant.

Daughters of the latter four are of particular interest as they are descendants of Chenille, also the dam of Rakti’s St Leger winning fourth dam sire Alcide.

Marju is by Last Tycoon (his dam sire being Mill Reef) whose daughters look very nice matches for Rakti – Last Tycoon doing very well with progeny line-bred to Rosy Legend. She is the dam of Last Tycoon’s second dam sire Sayajirao and also of the Epsom Derby champion Dante who appears in Rainbow Quest’s pedigree.

Rakti’s pedigree is strongly influenced by the always influential Gondolette family which appears via Bosworth, Pharamond II, Mossborough, Hyperion and Big Game.

For this reason Star Way (descendant of Gondolette’s daughter Selene) and Sir Tristram (descendant of Mossborough’s dam All Moonshine) should cross well with Rakti. Worth noting here is that the Danzig/Sir Tristram cross has proven extremely successful whilst the Danzig/Star Way cross has also over performed.

Mares by Sir Tristram’s son Zabeel look of particular interest as Rakti boasts a strain of the French Derby winner Herbager whose third dam Boxeuse is ancestress of Zabeel – and he has picked up strongly on her influence.

The successful broodmare Waffles is another mare worthy of duplication. Rakti boasts a rare strain via his sixth dam sire Bozzetto. She can be found in daughters of Covetous (his dam line-bred to Waffles via Manna and Brueghel) and any mares boasting strains of Vaguely Noble, Noholme II, Faringdon, Shifnal and Todman.