Graded Stakes Performance Panel

A unique and important tool in our horse selection processes as it identifies the genes that are vital to racing success. Without these genes, your horse’s chances of winning Graded Stakes, and particularly Gr1, are nearly nil (out of a sampled population of 300 Graded Stakes winners, only one horse was found to lack all the genes we look for). The tool therefore serves as an excellent way of eliminating horses which have no chance of competing at Graded Stakes level.

It is also possible, depending on the number of the desired genes found in a horse, to rate and assign probabilities of a horse being able to win Graded Stakes. Amongst a population of the best bred horses, such as those offered on the first day of Keeneland September sales, approximately 10% would achieve the highest rating. However, among the 300 tested Graded Stakes winners, 30% achieved this rating. A highly rated horse thus has 3 times better chance of becoming a Graded Stakes winner than a horse selected randomly from that day. Later on in the sale (where highly rated horses are perhaps only 2% of the total population), a top rated horse would have about 15 times greater chance of becoming a Graded Stakes winner (than if selected randomly).

Distance Panel

Uses genetic markers to tell you the optimal racing distance for your horse. This test is commonly (and incorrectly) referred to as the “speed gene”; it does however only tell you of distance preference and NOT how fast your horse is likely to be. The ability to run fast involves many complex physiological reactions, whereas the gene mutation tested for here (the myostatin muscle gene) describes if the horse has the kind of muscles which work best for short (<7 furlongs), medium (8-12 furlongs) or long (>12 furlongs) distances. This test has proven to work best for sprinters; of 28 Gr1 sprinters we have tested, all had the mutation indicating short distance preference. For longer distances, such as Kentucky Derby, the importance of genetic preference for certain distances is more subtle, with local factors (that you and your trainer will be best placed to determine), the pace of the race, etc., playing a bigger role.

Racing Surface Panel

Uses genetic markers to guide you in determining which surface will be the best for your horse. We have compared the genetic profiles of Gr1 winners and identified several markers associated with surface preference, and we are able to categorise horses as having a preference for Dirt, Turf, or either surface. The test does not test for class and athletic ability, only a horse’s aptitude for the different surfaces. We are currently not able to assess how these categories might translate to various artificial surfaces.

Height Panel

Enables us to estimate the horse’s full-age height, which will allow us, for example, to determine whether a smallish foal is likely to develop into a good sized yearling, if a smallish yearling will develop into a good sized race horse, or if a smallish mare is capable of producing good size offspring. On basis of certain genetic markers, we are able to categorise male thoroughbreds according their expected height. Although environmental factors, such as nutrition, play an important role, our final height predictions are highly accurate: 70% of the horses are within 1” of their genetic estimate and only 5% of the horses show a difference of 2” or more.