( CNN ) -- Spotting the `` next big thing '' in sport is an expensive business . Millions of dollars and countless hours are spent on talent identification , but it 's an unpredictable science . Except perhaps in horse racing , where major strides are being made in picking out potential winners in an industry where huge rewards are at stake . Thoroughbred stallion Fusaichi Pegasus , for example , became the most expensive horse in history in 2000 after being sold to Ireland 's Coolmore Stud for $ 60 million , having been bought as a yearling for $ 4 million . So just imagine what it would mean to breeders if they could determine how successful a horse would be before buying or selling them as a foal ? A company involved in thoroughbred research , Equinome , has been analyzing a particular strand of DNA within a horse -- dubbed the `` speed gene '' -- which can determine just how well equipped it will be for racing . Such chromosome information can also be a powerful tool for breeders as it helps them determine just what type of horse will be produced by different types of coupling . The mating game : Will Frankel and Black Caviar breed superhorses ? `` At first we had a positive response , and now over the last 18 months things have really taken off , '' Equinome 's managing director Donal Ryan told CNN . `` Every region is interested -- New Zealand , Singapore , the United States -- and breeders have already used our test thousands of times . '' Equinome maintains a strict policy of confidentiality with its clients , but Ryan did reveal that the first horses bred following speed-gene testing are already racing professionally . Breeders are also offered the $ 1,500 `` elite performance test , '' which analyzes 54,000 genetic factors . While its results may not provide the meticulous levels of accuracy the `` speed gene '' test delivers , it categorizes how likely a horse is -- genetically speaking -- to win . `` Horses are placed within one of four class bands ; a class one would be 11 times better than a class four , '' said Ryan . `` The criteria obviously differ from subject to subject . With a sprint horse we would be looking at traits such as lactate metabolism and vascularization , whereas a horse with stamina we might analyze heart physiology and respiration . '' Robin Oakley , turf columnist for `` The Spectator '' magazine and author of three books on the world of racing , dubbed the research as `` almost the holy grail for breeders and trainers . '' `` For years they have searched for a way to remove the gamble inherent within breeding -- imagine , not having to fly mares all over the world , mating with all those different studs just trying to get the right results , '' he said . Another milestone for fantastic Frankel at Glorious Goodwood . In Australia , Widden Stud farm in New South Wales has produced six former Australian champion sires since its foundation in 1867 . It is the first breeder to include Equinome 's `` speed gene '' results in its stud brochures . `` The test is certainly very interesting to us , '' says Widden Stud 's general manager Derek Field . `` Breeders have been searching for years for ways to do their job more efficiently , and there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle but this is certainly a key to unlocking it . `` People have looked in-depth at hearts and other organs but have come and gone . These speed gene tests can help develop studies in the right direction . It 's worth keeping a close eye on . '' However , Ryan stresses that genetic research is only one piece of the puzzle of breeding winners . `` Genetics is only 35-55 % of the battle . The rest is down to the way the horse is raised , from insemination through to foaling to its upbringing and race training ; the aspects that will always be most important are not genetic , '' he said . `` We aim to guide the trainers and breeders , so they can correctly focus their efforts . '' Ryan insists Equinome 's work will not detract from the competitive spirit of the sport . `` It is simply a tool to be utilized . It is ineffectual if not applied properly , '' he said . `` I can not see it taking away from the 'fun ' of the sport , as some have put it . '' Field agrees : `` The idea of mating horses more efficiently has been around since the sport began . This discovery does nothing to detract from the competition . '' Twitter : From the horse 's mouth . Australia 's OTI Racing and Bloodstock Management has also utilized Equinome 's tests . But rather than breed its own horses it instead buys them as `` tried '' yearlings , often imported from all over the world . These horses are then raced internationally , predominantly in Great Britain and France as well as Australia . As OTI 's reputation , not to mention profits , rely on the performance of its yearlings , it needs to buy the right horses and send them to the correct trainer . `` We were approached by a representative from their marketing team , '' OTI co-owner and director Terry Henderson said of its relationship with Equinome . `` I was fascinated by the science -- the sound logic and good research which they applied appealed to me . We made sure to do our own research to put their methods to the test . `` We took 12 blood samples from 12 different horses and sent them for a blind testing at Equinome -- this way they would have no idea if the blood was from a broken-down old mare or a champion sprinter . The correlations produced by their results gave us great confidence . '' Fame and fillies : Meet the celebrity racehorse owners . Henderson says the professional racing community has reacted cautiously to Equinome 's research . `` I was skeptical too at first . So much rubbish science is presented to the horse racing industry . So many ideas and tools claim to be unique but fail to deliver that professionals are gun-shy -- rarely is anything supported by the depth of research that Equinome offer , '' he said . OTI has not fully embraced the testing yet , but the company is at an `` advanced testing '' stage working towards a more complete relationship . `` It 's very encouraging , but it 'll still be two to three years before our confidence is at 90 % -plus , '' Henderson said . `` Right now we 're testing half of our purchases . Sometimes , what with the rate at which we complete transactions or because of contractual obligations , we do not have time to take the test . We do aim to test all of our domestic purchases , though . '' The British Horse Racing Authority says such testing is `` a commercial issue and it would not be appropriate for a regulatory body to comment . '' Henderson believes it poses no threat to the industry 's competitive balance . `` This is no different to the developments made in breeding 100 years ago . Innovations will always divide opinion -- it will be gospel to some and rubbish to others , '' he said . `` It 's the most significant development we 've seen in a while but it wo n't unbalance the playing field , that 's for sure . ''
Scientists discover `` speed gene '' within horse DNA which governs physical ability . Test allows trainers to learn what sort of runner their horse will develop into . Comment: Results of the test are already being published by Australian blood stockist OTI Racing .