He was sired by Darshaan who won the Prix du Jockey Club for the Aga Khan in 1984 before becoming a successful breeding stallion.
Dilshaan made his debut in a Novice race (for horses with no more than one previous win) over seven furlongs at Sandown Park Racecourse on 13 September 2000.
Ridden by the veteran Pat Eddery in a five-runner field he started 7/2 third choice in the betting behind Attache and Gleaming Blade, both of whom had already won maiden races.
He was slightly hampered when Gleaming Blade hung to the left in the last quarter mile but recovered to finish second, a length and a half behind Attache.
Despite his defeat, the colt was then moved up sharply in class for the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster Racecourse on 21 October.
Dilshaan started slowly and Murtagh restrained him at the rear of the field before switching to the outside and beginning to make progress in the straight.
[9] Dilshaan began his second season in the Dante Stakes (a major trial race for the Epsom Derby) over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse on 16 May.
Ridden by Kieren Fallon he tracked the leaders as Celtic Silence set the pace before moving up to make his challenge two furlongs out.
Dilshaan took the lead approaching the final furlong and stayed on well in the closing stages to win by half a length and a neck from Celtic Silence and Storming Home.