His sectionals in the NZ Derby were so slick, Wahid looked the winner with a lap to go

Wahid, the son of Almutawakel, had a debut win at Trentham (covering the 1000m in 57.27 seconds), and was rarely out of the limelight for the remainder of his two-year-old season. With wins in the Wakefield Challenge Stakes, New Zealand Bloodstock Classique and Group 1, placings in both the Diamond Stakes and Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, he was rated among the very best of his generation at age two and was labelled a Derby contender. Wahid began his three-year-old season quietly while Darci Brahma dominated the main spring races, running in lower-quality company before beating the year's best filly in Shikoba in the Group 1 Levin Classic. After a short break over the summer months, he started his Derby campaign at Woodville before returning to stakes company. He won the Wellington Stakes, but had the win rescinded for interference caused to the third horse Abbey Drive. He then had a winning sequence in Group races of three, culminating with the Derby win in March.

During his summer-autumn Derby campaign, Wahid reversed the style of racing that he had used to great effect as a two-year-old and spring three-year-old. Instead of coming from off the pace as he had in those two campaigns, he set the pace and led all the way in the Waikato Guineas, Championship Stakes and Derby.

With both Wahid and Darci Brahma succeeding throughout the season without ever meeting, it is difficult to say who was the better male three-year-old of the season. In the $600,000 NZ Derby, Wahid's early sectional times were impressive. The moment he relaxed back into the hands of Leith Innes 400m after the start and it became clear nothing was going to launch a suicidal attack on his outside, the colt had the race at his mercy. Running the last 800m on the inside rail in 47 seconds made it virtually impossible for anything to pick him up. The advantages of being a refined and natural leader are substantial, and a significant aspect of Wahid's talent was his disposition and capacity for composure. With the 3yo horse of the year award controversially given to Darci Brahma after a majority voted for Wahid, the issue remains a source of intense debate.

Wahid's four-year-old season was a disappointment, with the exception of a solid fourth-placing in the Kelt Capital Stakes. His five-year-old season started well, with a win at Ellerslie followed up with a third behind champion galloper Xcellent in the Sir James Fletcher Stakes. However, he was found to have a virus at his next start, and did not race for the rest of the season. His six-year-old campaign started with two unplaced runs, followed by a fast-finishing fourth in the Lightning Stakes at Trentham. He came back as a seven-year-old but failed to recapture his best form, and was officially retired in November 2009

RACE RECORD - 22: 9-4-2

EARNINGS - $1,022,060

New Zealand Derby (2006)

Levin Bayer Classic (2005)

New Zealand Bloodstock Classique (2005)