Expectations were obviously high when the unraced broodmare Secret Asset was retired to stud in Kentucky in 1980. The three-year-old did not conceive that season, but clicked to the cover of the great Mr. Prospector at Claiborne Farm the following year. That she deserved such an exalted mate becomes evident when one considers that Secret Asset possessed in her genes such superlative talent that there could have been few better-credentialed broodmares at stud. This can be seen from the fact that she was a daughter of champion Graustark out of champion Numbered Account, the latter a descendant – through a very strong branch – of the peerless matron, La Troienne.

Secret Asset`s 1982 foal, named Secret Prospector, displayed a fair degree of talent, checking in to the winner`s enclosure six times and placing in a pair of stakes events. Later he became a successful sire in South Africa before dying prematurely. After a couple of modest performers by Damascus, Secret Asset bred her first – and only – Gr.1 winner in Assatis (by Topsider), who annexed the Gran Premio del Jockey Club E Coppa d`Oro, Gr.1, in Italy and the Hardwicke Stakes, Gr.2, in England prior to a fairly productive stallion career in Japan.

	RAZEEN (1987 -2011) (NORTHERN DANCER X SECRET ASSET)

After five seasons visiting Claiborne stallions, Secret Asset was now switched to Northern Dancer, then holding court in Maryland at Windfields Farm. The attractive dark bay Warrshan, foaled on 3rd April 1986, was the result, and he was consigned by Hermitage Farm as Hip # 247 at the 1987 Keeneland July sale. The colt fetched the mighty sum of $ 3.7 million to the bid of Sheikh Mohammed`s Darley Stud Management. With a win in the Gr.3 Gordon Stakes in England, Warrshan earned his place at stud in that country, but in an increasingly fickle stallion environment was soon sold to the Star Stud Farm in India, where he resides presently.

Presumably the owners of Secret Asset were so pleased with Warrshan as a foal that they returned the mare to his sire. She conceived towards the end of June and on 20th May 1987, a big strapping bay colt was born. More Graustark and Buckpasser in scope and size, the son of Northern Dancer was a correct individual and came up for sale at the Warner L. Jones dispersal later the same year, where he fetched $ 1,175,000 – the highest price for a weanling colt that year.

Bought, like his elder brother, by Darley Stud Management, the colt – who was to be named Razeen (said to mean “polite” or even “solemn”) – was shipped to England where he entered the Newmarket yard of trainer, Henry Cecil, then at the top of his form at his Warren Place stables. Sporting the maroon and white silks of Sheikh Mohammed, Razeen made an excellent start to his racing career, reeling off a hat trick of victories from his first three starts at 3. A maiden win at Newbury was followed by a minor event at Sandown (there were only 2 runners) and culminated in a Listed Race victory in the N.M. Financial Predominate Stakes (10 fur.) at Goodwood, where he beat Elmaamul by 4 lengths.


As a result of this scintillating form, Razeen started 9 to 2 favourite for the 1990 Epsom Derby with Steve Cauthen aboard, but could finish only 14th, some 26 lengths behind the 7 to 1 winner, Quest For Fame. At his only other start that season, Razeen was fifth to Elmaamul in the Coral Eclipse Stakes, 7 lengths in arrears.

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A wind problem manifested itself, for which Razeen was operated upon. He was then relocated to the USA, where he finished third thrice from 4 starts in 1991, these placed efforts all coming in California in the Sunset Handicap, Gr.2, the Inglewood Handicap, Gr.2 and the Jim Murray Handicap, L.

The late Maj. P.K. Mehra had been following the career of Razeen with interest and after reportedly agonizing over the horse`s wind problem decided to take a gamble and bid for him. What an inspired decision that proved to be! For Razeen, with close to 19% stakes winners/foals has virtually matched his own sire in ability – and that is saying a great deal! The Western world`s loss proved to be India`s – and more particularly the Mehra/Usha/Greentree Stud Group`s – gain.

Retired in early 1992 to its flagship Carterpuri farm, where he stands even today, Razeen received a first book of about 40 mares, which resulted in 30 named foals. When one realizes that these 30 included 8 stakes winners such as Indictment (Indian Triple Crown), Santorini Star (Kingfisher Bangalore Derby) and Lei (Poonawalla Breeders Million), it becomes clear what a striking and immediate impact Razeen had on the Indian Turf.

Nor was this a flash in the pan. His second crop (58 foals, 10 stakes winners) numbered Star Supreme (McDowell Indian Derby, Kingfisher Bangalore Derby) and Forest Fantasy (Indian Turf Invitation Cup) amongst others.

There was a slight dip in the results in 1995 (34 foals, 4 stakes winners), but this is easily explained by the fact that several of the better broodmares were nominated in that season to the then newly-arrived Steinbeck, Razeen`s companion in the stallion barn. Moreover, he bounced back with an incredible 9 stakes winners from 26 named foals in 1996, Congratulations being perhaps the best of this bunch.

Without going into too much detail, it suffices here to say that in the past decade Razeen has done all that was asked of him. Unlike many stallions, he has maintained the quality of his get as Indian Derby winners Southern Regent and Psychic Flame can testify. Indeed, it`s quite incredible that despite the advent of China Visit, who drew away several of the farm`s mares, in the latest season Razeen has produced both the top colt (Autonomy) and the top filly (Set Alight) in India!

(This article was written by well known journalist and bloodstock agent Anil Mukhi two years ago. We are reproducing the article as a tribute to India`s all time champion sire)