IRISH biotechnology company Equinome received worldwide publicity this week when trainer Hugo Palmer revealed that the company’s speed gene test played a major role in the decision not to aim the 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold at the Epsom Derby.

The horse will instead be aimed at the Tattersalls-sponsored Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 22nd.

Palmer reported: “Nobody who witnessed the speed and power of Galileo Gold winning the 2000 Guineas will be surprised to learn that the result of his Equinome tests - from the scientists at University College Dublin - is what they call a ‘CC’.

“This means that there is a less than 1% chance of his optimum trip being a mile and a half and therefore, having consulted with Harry Herbert and Sheikh Joaan (of Al Shaqab Racing), I can reveal that the horse will not be running in the Derby.

“In many ways this is a relief, as if the results had come back a ‘CT’ then we may have faced a dilemma. Our priority is now to cement his position as a superstar miler and, all being well, we will now run in the Irish 2000 Guineas, and hopefully then on to the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

According to Equinome, horses with the C:C genotype have an optimum race distance less than or equal to one mile. From a set of almost 1,000 group and listed race winners tested to date, less than 1%t of C:C horses raced in Europe have demonstrated their optimum trip at a mile and a half. Horses with the C:T and T:T genotypes are best suited to the Derby distance.

Donal Ryan, chief operations officer for Plusvital, the equine nutrition company which merged with Equinome last December, said: “It’s a fantastic endorsement to have a leading trainer such as Hugo Palmer publicly announce that the decision on whether to run Galileo Gold in the Derby has been informed by the Equinome Speed Gene Test.

“It is not the first time that a key decision to race a horse in the Derby has been made based on a combination of traditional methods and our genetic tools.

“Hugo has a clear understanding of how to combine the scientific information with his deep knowledge and understanding of the horse to ensure it is given the optimal opportunity to perform at its best.

“We firmly believe that equine genetics will enhance the thoroughbred breed by allowing owners and trainers to understand more about how to get the absolute best out of each individual horse for both racing and breeding.”

The Equinome Speed Gene Test was launched in 2010 following the publication by Dr Emmeline Hill, a leading equine genomics researcher in University College Dublin and chief scientific officer of Plusvital, of a scientific paper which revealed the association of a gene related to muscle development with optimum racing distance in thoroughbreds.

The company’s clients include some of the top global racing and breeding organisations as well as owners and breeders with smaller operations. Over 13,000 horses from 19 countries have been tested to date, and Equinome says over 90% of clients are returning.

The merger between Plusvital and Equinome has led to the creation of a broader equine science company which will be headquartered in Dublin with offices worldwide. The growth of the company will involve the hiring of 50 new employees in the short term, and the investment of over €3.5 million in equine science research over the next three years.