'I couldn't give a stuff if it was a poor Derby - you try winning it'

If the judgement of the slide rule is to be believed, the evidence of the microscope to be treated with the same kind of reverence it receives in police procedural drama, then William Haggas was, in 1996, the trainer of a 'poor' Derby winner.

No matter that Shaamit announced himself as a champion on that heady Saturday in early June, or that his trainer produced the Class 5 median auction maiden winner off a 217-day break to run the race of his life against the cream of the Classic crop. In the cold final analysis, it wasn't much to write home about.

Except that the racehorse trainer doesn't view Derby winners the same way as the forensic historian. The opinions of those charged with establishing objective order in the realm of racing achievement will never quite chime with those whose job it is to marshal flesh and blood and bone on turf. Which may explain why Haggas is still a bit miffed, even 25 years on.