Equinome Speed Gene Test

Founded in research conducted at University College Dublin, Equinome has developed proprietary technology that can be used to predict best race distance for an individual horse.

In a gene responsible for muscle mass development, a specific position in the genetic code can contain either the letter C or the letter T. As each individual has two copies of the gene—one inherited from the dam, one from the sire—there are three possible combinations of the letters: C:C, C:T or T:T.

Prediction of Best Race Distance

196 Group races are competed annually in Britain and Ireland. Among a very large sample of elite race winning horses (179 individual Group (151) and Listed (28) race winners) it was discovered that each genetic combination (i.e. C:C, C:T and T:T) has an optimum racing distance. The association between the genetic combination and best race distance was highly significant with a statistical P value of 8.2 x 10^-20. Best race distance was defined as the distance of the highest grade race won by an individual. Where two races of the same grade were won, the distance of the race with the highest value was used.

Further analysis showed that there was no significant difference in genetic types between Group race winning horses and non-winners. Therefore, this test is not designed to identify how good a horse is likely to be, but rather what it will be good at.

Three Genetic Types

Optimum genetic profile for distance. Winners of Group races less than 1 mile are more likely to be C:C or C:T than T:T. Winners of Group races greater than 1 mile are more likely to be C:T or T:T than C:C. Only C:T horses are likely to win Group races over both 1 mile and 1½ mile distances.

Average best race distance (furlongs) for each genetic type. C:C horses are best suited to short distance races, C:T horses are best suited to middle-distance races and T:T horses are best suited to middle- to long-distance races.

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