Aleem Khan has become the eighth trainer to saddle 1,000 winners in India. Bay filly Pixie Lass, who won on Tuesday at Delhi, enabled him to join the elite group of R.R. Byramji, Z Darashah, M B Mangalorkar, J S Dhariwal, Imtiaz A Sait, Vijay Singh and Dallas Toddywalla. Incidentally, Aleem Khan is the first saddler from Delhi to achieve the landmark. 

Aleem, who is a science graduaute from Mysore, started his racing career as an assistant trainer with Kunwar Shivendra Singh at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club and Bangalore Turf Club. It took him five years to take up the professional licence of trainer in Kolkata in 1980-81. Amber Dew, the erstwhile 2000 Guineas winner, gave him the first victory in the then prestigious event, Prince Pradeep Cup.
However, his destiny had something else in store for him when he shifted his base to Delhi in 1982. It was the duo brother, the late Kr. Ram Kishan Singh and the late Kr Rajendra Singh, who had not only inspired him but also provided him six broodmares from their stud - Doaba - to resume his second inning. Grand March (dam of Eversun - Indian 2000 Guineas winner) was his first triumphant in Delhi and later, he went on to send Cherry Hinton - a nine year-old mare - out to thrash the youngsters in the Prime Minister Cup.

The 500th victory came through Your Excellence. Intense and Fire Glow gave him the first Juvenile Classic by winning the Fillies and Colts Trial Stakes respectively. Goodwill Hunter added yet another feather to his cap by bagging the inaugural "Million" race which was sponsored by the Sohna Stud.

The 51 year-old Mysorean headed the trainers tally in 1986-87 and has been reigning supreme since the 1995-96 season. The 15-time champion trainer, however, has the lone Blue Riband race to his credit - the 1000 Guineas, which was won by Real Sexy during the season 2005-2006.

Aleem has a string of over 60 horses. I asked him which the best horse he has trained so far. “Brahmaputra,” he said. "Insah-allah (by the grace of God), I will try to make a clean sweep in the classic treble - 2000 Guineas and North India Derby with the help of Brahmaputra and 1000 Guineas through one of the fillies," he told me with great confidence. He is now looking forward for his next 500 winners.