Dublin, December 15 2010, Equinome (www.equinome.com), the leading equine genomics company, officially launched its genetic-testing service to the Australian bloodstock industry at an event held last night in Sydney.
Attended by a number of Australia’s leading thoroughbred trainers and breeders, the launch took place at the residence of the Irish Consul General, Caitríona Ingoldsby. The event, which was organised with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland, was also attended by many of Australia’s premier bloodstock breeders.
Other guests included Peter McGauren, CEO Australian Thoroughbred Breeders, Andrew Harding, CEO Australian Racing Board, Dr Christine Smith, President Elect of Equine Veterinarians Australia, Michael Ford, Keeper of the Australian Stud Book and Professor Patrick Cunningham, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government.
At the launch Dr Emmeline Hill, co-founder and Chairman of Equinome, delivered a presentation outlining the research, development and commercialisation of the breakthrough Equinome Speed Gene Test. Unveiled earlier this year, the test can predict the optimum racing distance for an individual Thoroughbred by analysing the DNA sequence of a gene related to muscle mass development.
Breeders in Australia can now avail of the Equinome Speed Gene Test and incorporate the information provided by it into their key decision-making processes. This can be used to definitively ensure that a broodmare band will produce more of the desired type of foal, to assist with stallion choice, and to also ensure that breeding objectives are met more consistently.
Racehorse owners and trainers can also use the information to optimise purchasing and training decisions, enabling them to select with more certainty the type of horse that they wish to race and to better target suitable races for horses at the early stages of their careers, maximising their genetic potential and increasing returns on investment.
Stallion masters can also use the information to ensure that a higher proportion of a young stallion’s early crops are of the preferred potential genetic type, thus enhancing its profile.
Equinome, a University College Dublin spin-out company, was established in 2009 by Dr Emmeline Hill in partnership with Mr Jim Bolger, the renowned Irish racehorse trainer and breeder. Headquartered in NovaUCD, the University’s Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, the company also has laboratory facilities in UCD’s School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine and at Jim Bolger’s training yard in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
Speaking at the launch in Sydney, Dr Hill a leading horse genomics researcher at University College Dublin, said, “We are delighted by the high level of interest that we have already received in Australia to the introduction of Equinome’s new genomic technology. The Australian bloodstock industry has always been recognised as one of the world leaders in the production and training of top-class Thoroughbred racehorses and we are very excited about working with breeders, owners and trainers here to assist in maintaining this proud tradition.”
Since the launch of company earlier this year, Equinome has already secured clients in USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, France and Singapore.
Equinome has an ongoing research programme using the latest genomics technologies. It is using these technologies to identify and characterise the molecular genetic variants underlying key performance and health traits in the Thoroughbred which will lead to the commercialisation of additional genetic tests in the near future.
Through its associations with top-class breeders and trainers, Equinome also has access to large numbers of elite horses at various stages of training and competition that provide subjects for its scientific research programme.
Australian clients who wish to avail of the Equinome Speed Gene test must provide a 4-5ml uncoagulated blood sample for each horse. They must then download a copy of the Sample Submission Form and VET15 Import Licence from Equinome’s website (www.equinome.com) and contact Equinome’s office on +353 1716 3775 to arrange for courier collection and shipping of samples via FedEx to Equinome’s laboratories. Results will be returned to clients within seven days of receipt of the blood samples.