Trainers and racegoers will have often wondered what makes one horse faster than another.

Investigations into the equine genome have found some genes that are particularly related to speed. One of these is the myostatin gene, which can have several alleles, or alternative forms.

Myostatin is a protein that influences muscle cell growth and differentiation. Horses have different types of muscle fibers, some of which contract rapidly and produce forceful bursts of energy, and others of which contract somewhat more slowly but do not fatigue as rapidly. Depending on the presence and action of myostatin gene alleles, a particular horse might have more fast-twitch or more slow-twitch muscle fibers, though all horses have some fibers of both types. In the former case, the horse will generally exhibit larger muscle masses, be taller and quicker-maturing, and excel at fast paces over a shorter distance. These horses have the C:C allele. In the latter case, horses with the T:T allele will generally reach maturity later, be smaller, show less muscle definition, and be competitive at longer distances.

Horses can also inherit the C allele from one parent and the T allele from another. These C:T horses show characteristics of both types, and may win at both short and long distances…or they may not win at all, which underscores the fact that there is more to racing than pedigree.

A study done at the beginning of this decade using 593 horses from 22 Eurasian and North-American horse populations, museum specimens from 12 historically important Thoroughbred stallions, 330 elite-performing modern Thoroughbreds and 42 samples from three other equid species showed the T-allele was ancestral and there was a single introduction of the C-allele at the foundation stages of the Thoroughbred from a British-native mare. Furthermore, it showed that the C-allele was rare among the celebrated racehorses of the 18th and 19th centuries, but has proliferated recently in the population via the stallion Nearctic (b.1954), the sire of the most influential stallion of modern times, Northern Dancer (b.1961).

Nutrition, training schedule, influence of exercise riders and jockeys, farrier competence, prevention or management of injuries, health status, track surface characteristics, weather, race experience, tack choices, and quality of other entrants are all important factors in how a horse will perform in a race. Genetics can help predict whether a horse is likely to be a sprinter or a stayer, but there are still no guarantees that any horse will succeed in a racing career.

Source www.nature.com and www.ker.com

By David Thiselton

De Kock has nominated Premiers Champion and Joburg Spring Challenge runner-up Alyaasaat for the Cape Classic and Ghaalla (a close-up third in the fillies Jo’bug Spring Challenge) for the Western Cape Fillies Championship – formerly the Choice Carriers and before that the Odessa. De Kock, successful with Ektifaa two years ago and with Phillipa Johnson in 2003, has also entered Nafaayes who has won two out of three.

Sweet Mary Lou, Anneka and Sally Called are the three Tarry entries for the 1 400m Grade 2 and the three-time champion trainer has also entered two for the Cape Classic including top-rated Chimichuri Run who was third in both the SA Nursery and the Gold Medallion.

Vaughan Marshall, who used last year’s Cape Classic as Tap O’Noth’s stepping stone to the Cape Guineas, has nominated the Lanzerac Ready To Run-bound Agent Of Fortune but stable companion One World is a notable absentee. Marshall indicated earlier in the month that the Concord Cup (formerly Selangor) on 24 November is the more likely target. Joey Ramsden, successful in three of the last five runnings, has only one entry – Twist Of Fate who was third in the Premiers Champion.

Justin Snaith, who won his fifth WC Fillies Championship last season when Snowdance presaged her Cape Fillies Guineas and Majorca victories, has entered three plus seven for the Cape Classic which he has won only once – with Solo Traveller eight years ago.

The decision to appoint Arnold Hyde as interim chief executive of the NHA until a replacement for the departed Lyndon Barends can be found smacks of commonsense. Hyde knows the racing game inside out and, in the process of working his way up through the stipendiary ranks to the head of Racing Control, he has earned the respect of most of the professionals.

Indeed he has all the qualities needed to take the NHA’s top job on a permanent basis, the most important of these being integrity and the ability to ensure that this is carried all the way through every aspect by every official. It also needs somebody who understands and enjoys racing which is quite different from any other sport or activity.

What the NHA does not need is a businessman. It already has accountants to prepare budgets and ensure that they are adhered to, and making money is not it’s raison d’etre. Hopefully it won’t be tempted into opting for political correctness either. Racing is too important to be swayed by that and it cannot afford for its governing body to make a mistake a second time.

Danny Muscutt, son of Brett Crawford’s Summerveld assistant Peter Muscutt, faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines following a horror fall at Chelmsford in England last Thursday evening. His mount Pico Boulevard, who had to be put down, appeared to clip heels and Muscutt broke a bone in his neck, three vertebrae and a rib.

He has ridden 21 winners since the championship season started on May 5 and last year he finished second on Fanciful Angel in the Arlington Million, his first ride in America. He also won on the horse in Dubai.

By Michael Clower

“Spot on,” was Yogas Govender’s comment on the preparation of Arianos Shadow earlier this week and his assessment was ‘spot on’.

Given her rating, 5kg superior to the balance of the opposition in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial at Greyville yesterday, 5-1 seemed rather generous odds in the ante-post market. Many took advantage and they too were ‘spot on’.

Miss Calypso set a searching pace but Muzi Yeni always had the race under control as he shadowed Generous Lady who ended up second best as Arianos Shadow collard her and raced past.

Sweet Mary Lou, soon on her way south for the Western Cape season, warmed up well enough as did stable companion Second Request.

Frank Robinson was never shy to take on the big guns with Roy’s Riviera during Champions Season but although only making the frame only once in her last five outings, she was never far off the cream of the crop. She is an entry for the G-Bets Summer Cup and she may still find a place in the sun given yesterday’s showing.

Roy’s Riviera looked a cut above her rivals in the Durban View Restaurant Pinnacle Stakes and confirmed her class. A short break, top weight and a tardy start were not enough to blunt her chances as in-form apprentice Serino Moodley rode a confident race.

Moodley missed a gap at the top of the straight but committed up the inside of Tammany Hall and drove smoothly for the wire.  Tammy Hall loomed dangerous for a few strides but was running on empty as Argenteus cut across her bows in pursuit of Roy’s Riviera, the chase in vain.

High Altar found the step up in class a bridge too far but was staying on well for third.

Judged on the avalanche of money for Uncle Charlie in the Greyville opener, the race looked all over bar the shouting but those that plunged knew their fate a furlong out.

Given Gareth van Zyl’s comments post-race, Marchetto is a name for the note book as he collared Uncle Charlie before going on to win comfortably.

“He’s a little bit on the small side, but he’s a lion this horse,” said Van Zyl, heaping praise on his charge. ‘I’m excited.”

“We don’t know where his bottom is,” concurred Warren Kennedy. “He’s a fighter.”

“When he goes a trip, we will see the best of him,” concluded Van Zyl.

Similarly, there is not much of Peacock Alley but he was overdue a win in the Greyville Convention Centre Maiden and he did it in style.

Close-up in all three of his recent starts, Keagan de Melo had little hesitation taking the gelding to the front and Mark Dixon’s runner was never challenged.

De Melo banged home a quick double as a bold forward move on the home turn saw Josephine Baker steal a march in the All To Come Maiden Plate. Once clear, Josephine Baker was never in danger with Whatabeauty making a mockery of her form to take second. Favourite Asiana was slow to begin and made up lengths on the straight, but not enough ground to trouble the winner.

Lickerio turned the fifth upside down as he bolted clear from the jump leaving Muzi Yeni hunting for position on favourite Thanksgiving – that position turning out to be last.

Lickerio’s petrol gauge flickered red early in the straight leaving The Bayou and Amore Ardiente to do battle. It was anyone’s race over the final 50m but Craig Zackey got Paul Lafferty’s gelding home in a desperate finish. Yeni and Thanksgiving were forced to negotiate roadblocks all the way up the straight and did well to finish third. Not one to write off.

By Andrew Harrison

Arianos Shadow confined to sprints so far in her career, takes a mighty step up when she lines up in the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial at Greyville on Sunday. Not only does she jump to a ‘mile’ for the first time, but she is also up against some useful opposition already tested over the trip.

That said, she is rated 5kg better than anything in the opposition and just that fact may be enough to see her home but more encouraging is that but Yogas Govender is confident of her chances.

“She won’t have any trouble with the trip. If you watched her last race you will see that she was off the bit a long way out but was running on. She is spot on and I will be disappointed if she does not finish in the first two,” he said. Govender has a smart filly on his hands and judged on pedigree and her trainer’s comments the extended trip should be well within her compass.

Arianos Shadow won the Sentinel Stakes second time out back in April making all the running. Rider Richard Fourie was impressed with his mount. “She’s a nice filly and needs further. The only thing to worry about is her temperament. You just have to keep her quiet and happy.”

After a change of stable, she was off the track until the end of July where she contested Gr2 The Debutante, finishing second to the smart Temple Graffin, in her first outing for Govender.

She made her seasonal debut in a 1200m sprint at Greyville where she was well supported in the market. The race was run at a cracking gallop and Arianos Shadow showed all the signs of ring rust as she looked to hang in under pressure but she was running on nicely suggesting that Sunday’s trip will be right up her street.

The scrap for the shallow end of the purse is likely to be a close one. Sean Tarry is two-handed, both having won over the trip, but recent maiden winner Generous Lady looks likely to be the biggest improver amongst the opposition. Paul Lafferty’s filly took three runs to get off the mark but when she did it was a smart victory over 1400m at Scottsville. Drawn on Woodhouse Road, she put daylight between herself and second-placed Cape Bluebell.

The latter has since franked that form in another competitive maiden which augurs well for Generous Lady’s chances.

Tarry was quick to realise the talents of current National Champion jockey and still apprentice Lyle Hewitson and was key to Hewitson’s championship aspirations. Similarly, young Luke Ferraris has fast made a name for himself as an apprentice with a big future and the pair will be aboard the two Tarry runners. As senior partner as it were, Hewitson’s mount Sweet Mary Lou could be the pick as she cantered home in her first attempt at 1600m on the Greyville poly. If there is a concern it may be that both her wins have been in the synthetic surface while stable companion Second Request has won on the Scottsville turf. Ferraris was aboard both fillies in their recent victories.

Frank Robinson was not afraid to pit Roy’s Riviera against the best around during Champions Season and she steps out for the first time in two months in a Pinnacle Stakes, fourth race on the card.

The Australian-bred was far from disgraced in any of her Champions Season races, having finished just over two lengths back to Fiorella in the Fillies Guineas and never further back than four lengths to the likes of Oh Suzanna (Gr 1 Woolavington) African Night Sky (Gr3 Cup Trial), Redberry Lane (Gr1 Garden Province) and rounded off last season beaten under e length by Miyabi Gold.

She jumps straight into an 1800m contest which suggests that Robinson has her racing fit.

Of the opposition, Peter Muscutt saddles Parabola for Brett Crawford, and last season’s Scarlet Lady winner has a warm-up under her girth and will be a threat.

The interesting runner here is High Altar. She has disposed of everything Duncan Howells has pitted her against in her last four starts with ease but takes a big jump in class. She has obviously been a later maturing mare and with only 52kg to shoulder and in receipt of 9.5kg from Roy’s Riviera, she could extend her winning streak to five on the bounce.

By Andrew Harrison

Trainer David Ferraris hit a landmark in race three, the Class 4 Dianthus Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Ultimate Dream stormed home under Teetan to give the South African handler his 400th Hong Kong victory.

Ferraris, 55, arrived in Hong Kong ahead of the 2002/03 season and is best known in these parts as the man behind champion galloper Vengeance Of Rain. Tonight’s win was his third this season, all of which have been achieved at the city track.

“Every winner is something to celebrate – it’s not easy in this place – so you just enjoy these wins when they come. I suppose it’s come at a good time,” he said.

“Those of us who train at Olympic Stables need support. There’s this rumour, this mindset, about the stables being no good, but you don’t get better facilities than that. The last two seasons have shown that I’m happy to work there and I wouldn’t move back to the old stables if you paid me to.”

Ferraris has 41 horses in his yard at present with a further 10 imports in quarantine. “We’re getting there slowly,” he added.

Teetan continued his pursuit of Purton in the jockeys’ standings. The Mauritian doubled up aboard the Tony Cruz-trained Blitzing in race five to end the night on 13 wins to Purton’s 16.

Chris So, meanwhile, put the saddle on Lunar Zephyr in race four and past champion Douglas Whyte did the rest, driving the Commands gelding to a 17-1 score in the 1000m Class 4.

Hong Kong racing returns at Sha Tin, 13 October.

– hkjc.com (David Morgan)