one to watch
‘Where we differ from other companies is that we have carried out scientific research which has been peer reviewed and accepted in scientific journals. The science stands up to scrutiny’
As part of her research, which was funded by SFI, Hill
had to collect a large sample base of horses, achieving this through the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “Many breeders gave anonymous samples for DNA
analysis. We returned the results to them. One of them was Jim Bolger.When I met him a year later he asked me how the research was going and offered me samples from another 100 horses.We continued building on our research through his training yard in Kilkenny,” Hill explains. As well as being one of Ireland’s most successful train-
ers – he holds the record of 125 flat winners in a season – Bolger is a successful breeder of champion horses like Teofilo and Soldier of Fortune. “He was the first person I discussed the application of
the research with and our partnership arose out of his generosity,” Hill explains. Jim Bolger is a director of Equinome as is Professor David MacHugh, associate professor of Genomics at UCD. The research was based on 179 elite race winners and 142 two year olds in training with the same trainer.
Billion-dollar industry Apart from Bolger, Equinome does not identify any of its clients as confidentiality is critical in the racing world. Clients do not have to identify the source of the samples sent to Equinome at UCD and the results of the speed test are also confidential to the client. Equinome will only accept samples from known own-
ers, breeders and trainers to prevent the possibility of stolen samples being used. “This is very valuable infor- mation in a billion-dollar industry,” Hill explains. For a company that has only been in business for little
over a year, Equinome is still enjoying international suc- cess. Hill has spoken at conferences and seminars of breeders’ associations in the US, Ireland, UK and Australia and the company’s speed test is now used by breeders and trainers in 10 markets, including Russia, France, South Africa and Japan. The industry is inter- national by its nature and many breeders and owners have studs and yards in a number of countries. “Ourmost successfulmarket abroad has been Australia,
which is great as it is the second largest thoroughbred market after the US,” Hill explains. The company faces a battle convincing many in the traditional thoroughbred industry about the benefits of the new technology. “Where we differ fromother companies that claimthey
can identify speed and stamina in a blood sample is we have carried out scientific research that has been peer reviewed and accepted in scientific journals. The science
32 Irish Director Spring 2011
stands up to scrutiny,” Hill explains. Equinome has negotiated an exclusive licence with UCD
to use the research carried out by Hill and her team there. It has made a PCT filing for the intellectual prop- erty behind the Speed Gene Test. Equinome has received seed capital and is also receiving revenues from the tests it already carries out for clients in its 10 markets.
A disruptive technology Managing director Ryan describes the Speed Gene Test as a “disruptive technology” which will go through certain phases of acceptance. “One breeder has used the test to focus on optimal mares for his breeding goals. The tests confirmed what he already suspected. It means he can predict the breeding outcome a year or more earlier than with traditional methods,” Ryan explains. Because the lab test will identify whether a horse is a
sprinter (6.1 furlongs or 1,300 metres) a middle distance horse (9.1 furlongs or 1,830) or a longer distance horse (11.1 furlongs), it allows trainers to optimise their train- ing regime. It saves a trainer (and an owner) the expense of a season racing a horse in the wrong races. The three gene characteristics are CC (short dis- tance), CT (middle distance) and TT (long distance). Obviously, CC stallions will father CC foals if matched with a CC brood mare. CT, the middle distance type, combines the elements of speed with some stamina. Hill says the Speed Test is growing in acceptance and
by the end of 2011, horses will be advertised for sale using the CC, CT or TT label. “It’s great to hear people in the industry with no scientific experience refer to a horse as a CC or a CT type,” she says. Equinome is not resting on its laurels, however, and
will not be a one-trick pony. “We are investing in R&D and hope to have a second test product available by the end of this year,” Hill says. Currently, Equinome is focusing on thoroughbreds
involved in flat racing, despite the fact that Hill’s grand- mother Charmaine Hill was the owner of Dawn Run – probably the best National Hunt horse of all time. Staff numbers will increase as Equinome appoints peo-
ple to focus on particular markets such as Australia. “We will continue to carry out all tests here at
NovaUCD,” says Ryan. “It is not information that is required within 24 hours, but we may look at a secure lab in Australia as the market there develops”. What’s the betting that Hill and Equinome don’t quali-
fy for another award to add to the collection in UCD before very long?
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84