Speed Gene Test

The Speed Gene Test examines the Myostatin gene – a gene responsible for the regulation of muscle development. Multiple published studies by Equinome researchers and others have shown race-distance aptitude is almost entirely determined by the genetic make-up of this gene.

The Speed Gene test determines if your horse is one of 3 types:

C:C – Best suited to shorter distance races and tend to be more forward – performing better as 2-year-olds and at sales

C:T – Most versatile. Best suited to middle distance races as 3-year-old although can perform at shorter distances as 2 year olds.

T:T – Best suited to staying distances and are later maturing – often being less suited to 2-year-old racing

Trainers use the Speed Gene Test to tailor training programs, improve race strategies, and manage horses’ health proactively. This scientific approach combined with environment, nutrition and management help to optimise a racehorse’s performance and career longevity.

Understanding Speed Gene Type.

Each genetic type has equal potential to be an elite racehorse, but they get there in very different ways:

C:Cs tend to be earlier maturing and are better suited to the shorter two-year-old distances with higher strike rates and earnings at this age.

C:Ts are the most versatile type; they can perform well over shorter distances as two-year-olds and then progress to run over middle distances as three-year-olds and beyond. Therefore, this type has the highest earning potential.

T:Ts tend to be later maturing and are less suited to two-year-old racing. However, they develop as three-year-olds and have equal lifetime earning potential to C:C types.

The Speed Gene Test for Breeding

The mare and stallion each pass on one copy of their genetic marker (i.e. ‘C’ or ’T’) to the foal, with a C:T horse being equally likely to pass on a ‘C’ or ’T’. Therefore, knowing the Speed Gene Type of the mare and the stallion allows understanding of what type the resulting foal is likely to be e.g. mating a C:T mare with a C:C stallion will produce C:C foals 50% of the time and C:T foals the other 50% with no chance of producing a T:T foal. The Speed Gene Test can assist breeders to make informed decisions about mating pairs, aiming to produce high-quality, competitive racehorses in predicting the performance potential of the foals.

Read more published studies