A new software which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse pedigrees and predict the likely success of matings has just been released onto the market. The Pedigrees 360 software is the brainchild of renowned pedigree expert Leo Tsatsaronis .
“It really is a huge step forward in pedigree analysis and will give elite breeders and yearling buyers an extremely powerful tool in helping predict the likely outcome of a mating,” Tsatsaronis said.
“We have fed into the program nine generations of the pedigrees of hundreds and hundreds of horses ranging from elite champions down to the slowest of the slow and asked the program to identify what the qualities are that separate them.
“Using AI and machine learning, the program has shown a very high degree of accuracy in predicting which pedigree combinations will produce the champions and which will produce the perennial maidens.
“It is obviously vitally important to be able to identify both, fast and slow. This is particularly the case when many of the slow ones may be superficially well bred. The program can provide an extremely powerful tool to assist buyers in avoiding such yearlings and assist breeders in not breeding slow ones in the first place."
“Obviously, there are always going to be horses which belie their pedigree. Some which the program suggest are going to be outstanding are actually slow and vice versa but so far these are proving to be a very small percentage and maybe the result of some biomechanical factor rather than pedigree.” Tsatsaronis said.
“When most breeders and buyers are assessing a prospective mating or yearling, they take a variety of factors into consideration including, pedigree, conformation, x-rays and movement. Our program is just a tool to assist in one of those factors but it is a very powerful tool.”
The release is timed to coincide with breeders planning the stallion matches for their mares for the upcoming season in the southern hemisphere and the upcoming yearling sales in the northern hemisphere.
Pedigrees 360 is the first of a range of related products to be released by parent company Thoroughbreds 360 which is backed by business partners Peter Stewart and Graham Watson, both of whom are long time, small breeders.
“Leo is obviously one of the world’s most knowledgeable people when it comes to thoroughbred pedigrees, so we were happy to back him in this incredibly exciting project,” Stewart said.
“Leo has assembled a small team of young IT whiz kids in Melbourne who have built the program over the past 12 months. Some of the discoveries they have made in the research process have been quite remarkable, particularly around the issue of what attributes in a horse’s pedigree separate a fast horse from a slow one, as well as the key attributes which can produce a fast filly and a slower colt from the same parents. It really is very interesting,” Stewart said.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the program is undoubtedly its ability to identify top quality horses from unfashionable matings. Golden Slipper winning champion 2yo Fireburn is an excellent example. Although she is the result of an unfashionable mating involving a low fee sire, our program shows the mating is excellent. It is all about how the stallion and mare’s genes combine and Fireburn’s combine really well. This is clearly the reason why so many outstanding horses over the years have been purchased at bargain prices.
“Obviously Fireburn doesn’t compare to Winx or Frankel but, compared to the huge percentage of horses, her profile is excellent,” Stewart explained.
“We are aiming our product at those who want to gain an edge over the competition when they are investing significant sums into either breeding or buying horses. It really is for elite breeders and yearling buyers who want to ensure they are not left behind by the latest scientific development in the breeding industry.”
For more information visit www.pedigrees360.com.
