All racehorses that take part in flat racing around the country are thoroughbreds who have bloodlines that can be tracked back to their foundation sires and mares. This characteristic in a racehorse sets him apart form other horses. In a nutshell, the thoroughbred is bred purely for racing and as such is both courageous and competitive. These horses are also temperamental, extremely sensitive and more high-strung than others.

It's as if they all have an individuality of their own with idiosyncrasies that may baffle the best of trainers. The history of the thoroughbred began in England in the 1600’s. Farmers raced their horses against each other, and a miniature racing industry had begun around that time. Wealthy owners began breeding horses specifically to race; the native horses had endurance but little speed and the breed imported to improve the English broodmares was the Arabian. The three stallions — Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian thus became legendary sires. With that, the thoroughbred as we know today was established.

There is no denying the fact that some thoroughbreds have superior bloodlines to others and these have a better chance of performing creditably in the five Classics, which are the 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, Oaks, Derby and St. Leger. The Derby run over a mile and half is considered the plum of the quintet, as only the very best of a particular year's four-year-old crop are eligible to participate.

The Indian Derby run annually at Mumbai has inevitably produced a legend every now and then. Squanderer, Manitou, Elusive Pimpernel, Royal Tern and Smart Chieftan were all champions in their own right. The Derby has also thrown up a surprise from time to time. Unforgettable intrepid fillies like Cordon Bleu who fought high fever before landing the spoils dramatically in the strong hands of Michael Kinane, make the Indian Derby the most glorious of all events in the racing calendar.

There is something about the race that can make the hairs on the nape of one's neck rise when the contenders leap out of the starting gates. While it is imperative that a racehorse be bred in the blue to win Classics, the reverse is unfortunately not always true. There is a long list of expensive failures over the years. Furthermore, adding to the uncertainty of this sport of kings is the fact that a sibling of a well-performed Classic winner may turn out to be the black sheep of the family. More often than not however, full-brothers and sisters keep the family flag flying high, none more apparent than Chaitanya Ratham and Chaitanya Chakram.

Warsaw Pact, a filly out of Polish Lightning, had an amazing turn of foot. She was out of Polish Lightning, who was sired by none other than the magnificent Track Lightning —  a Grey Gaston stunner. Her incredible acceleration in the final furlong was reminiscent of the `Lightning'.

During the past decade, the sire Alnasr Alwasheek has produced Indian Derby winners in the form of Storm Again and Noble Eagle, while Placerville has triple-crown winner (Smart Chieftan) to his credit.

However, none has dominated Derby Day more than Razeen who has sired three big ones in Star Supreme, Psychic Flame and triple-crown winner Indictment.