Gee Up, Mister Stud

RAZEEN snorts fury at any invasion of privacy, nostrils flaring in umbrage, yet you know he's bluffing. He has a kind eye. Rearing his 16 hands 2" tall, 576 kg frame in mock protest at the sight of strangers, he calms down at the soothing tones of his groom Hem Singh. Then breaks free to take off at a steady canter round his personal paddock, muscles rippling, jet-black mane ruffled by the summer breeze. A lap later, he returns, arrogance streaming from every sweaty pore, as if to say: "You're looking at the greatest stud in India. Any questions?"

A classic specimen of equine grace, Razeen is the First stallion of Indian racing today. Not because of his racing prowess. His USP lies elsewhere, in his thoroughbred genes—and his sperm. He's broken all existing Indian racing records. At this year's Indian Derby, of the 11 runners, 7 were Razeen's progeny, as were the first two winners, Star Supreme and Archimedes. Combining it with another historic first at the prestigious Classic Invitation Cup, '98. Forest Fantasy, Archimedes and Star Supreme, who won the first three positions, have all been sired by Razeen. No other stallion in the world, let alone India, has sired a 1, 2, 3 at the Invitation Cup.

Offspring Forest Fantasy is the highest earning racehorse ever in India, winning over Rs 1 crore in stake money, and the fastest Indian horse, having run 1.5 miles in a whizzing 2 min 30 sec. The McDowell Indian Derby '97 and '98 were also taken by Razeen's progeny as was the Indian St Leger '97, '98. The Bangalore, Pune, Calcutta and Hyderabad Derbys between '96 and '98 have all seen tremendous wins by the Razeen lineage.In Razeen's first crop there were 28 foals with 27 winners, claiming over Rs 3 crore in stake money. Of the last 12 Classics in Mumbai and Pune, the House of Razeen won 10. Says well-known racehorse owner M.A.M. Ramaswamy: "Forest Fantasy and Star Supreme are the best horses I've ever owned."

What we're looking at is an 11-year-old Equus Extraordinaire. For starters, Razeen is the son of the greatest stallion ever, Kentucky Derby winner and Canada-bred Northern Dancer, who charged close to a million dollars for a roll in the hay. Father of the legendary Nidjinsky, Northern Dancer went on to produce only winners and there's hardly a pedigree in the world where he doesn't feature. Razeen was one among Northern Dancer's second-last crop. The highest prized yearling owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum al-Maktoum, and the first favourite for the Epsom Derby, arguably one of the greatest races in Europe and the world, Razeen unfortunately developed a soft palate and therefore didn't fare well. The condition, as explained by Ameeta Mehra, manager, Usha Stud Farms, develops when the soft palate located in the throat, suddenly closes, choking air supply. Razeen was operated upon in the US but his price fell and he was up for sale.

"That's when I took a chance," says owner, Major Pradeep Mehra (retd) of the Delhi-based Usha Stud Farms. "I bought him in '92, gambling on the fact that neither of his parents nor his siblings had a history of soft palate." Today Razeen's second crop has just finished the Derby. Mehra smiles smugly: "The Sheikh wanted to buy him back." In each season, a stallion mates with about 50 pedigreed mares. In thoroughbreds, the genetic race is judged on the race track. If you're no good, you don't go into the breeding stalls," says Mehra, adding, "in this business (breeding), you're only as good as your last race". And Razeen's race is far from over.

Naturally, the paterfamilias of the tracks is a pampered soul, with his own aircooled stable and sprawling paddock. He's up at 5.30 am every morning, ready for exercise and an invigorating ride. Then it's time for a feed. "Feeding is where our farm scores," says farm manager Ameeta, who's specialised in stud farm management and equine nutrition from Ireland and the US. "Nutrition is a science and we've managed to do it well." If it's the breeding season, usually from mid-February to mid-June, after his feed Razeen is ready to play the ultimate lady's man. Then he's groomed for two hours —brushed to a velvet sheen.

"Personal touch is very important," explains Major Mehra. And Razeen and his progenies' brilliant track record is the outcome of a winning mix of an efficient management team, ingenious genetic pool planning, good environment, and, last but most important, a sensitive owner. "In my book," says Mehra, "there are no bad horses, only bad people."

Paying court to the 106 mares on the farm must be an exhausting regimen, which is probably why the owners discourage mating with mares owned by other breeders. Also, they probably run the danger of the line getting diluted. However, in the event of an odd exception, Razeen's fee for a single mating could go up to about Rs 6 lakh. And why not? He's sired a list of illustrious winners apart from Forest Fantasy and Star Supreme, like daughter Lei, who won the Poona Million worth Rs 60 lakh of stake money; and Indictment, winner of the Pune Derby '96, the Triple Crown, and Indian St Leger '97. In short, largely due to Razeen, Usha Stud Farms has won the Indian Derby eight times with five consecutive wins and over 130 Classics. Says trainer Dallas Todywalla: "Usha horses have the ability. All you have to do is extract it."

 Major Mehra, winner of the ITC Hall of Fame award for Best Breeder, is now intent on creating the perfect genetic pool. "The best mix," says Mehra, "is a nick (union) between the progeny of Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector." If what Mehra says is true, he has another winning crop in the pipeline. Besides, he's also the proud owner of Steinbeck, 9, the season's leading freshman stud, sired by Mr Prospector, the greatest living stallion today. Mehra plans to mate Razeen's filly Lei with Steinbeck. Given the genetic base of the sons of the best and second best sires, the first known for staying ability, the second for speed, a genetic die will have been cast.

A former commandant of the President's bodyguard, Mehra is clearly on a winning course. The Indian foal crop has overtaken Canada's, producing nearly 2,000 foals a year, placing India up there among the first eight racehorse breeding countries. Over 200 of Mehra-bred horses are out on the tracks. And racing is slowly moving out of the elite mould to grab the interest of the middle-income group as well, and attracting hefty corporate sponsorships. The stake money which can go up to a crore is a major draw. Raz-een's '97 crop features six fresh foals wagered upon to be winners.

As the sun sets over the 450-acre farm, the 68 foals are herded away with their mothers. Razeen's stable has been cleaned and the warm earthy scent of fresh straw mingles with the slightly pungent odour of fodder. A lone horseshoe lies at the bottom of the water container, as much for luck, as for the energising iron content it releases into the water. The whirr of the cooler is the only other sound except for the occasional shrill neigh of a skittish foal as Razeen, super sire, retires for a good night's rest. Like all great stars in the limelight, tomorrow he has to rise to the occasion.