Dosage Race Trends (DRT)

Pedigree, explained simply

A horse’s pedigree is its family tree: its sire, dam and the generations behind them. Breeders and racing analysts study those bloodlines for clues about the qualities a horse may inherit, including its likely balance of speed and stamina and suitability for different distances. It can be especially useful when a horse is trying something new and its own race record offers only part of the picture.

What is dosage?

Dosage is one structured way of examining that pedigree. It assigns points to selected influential ancestors, known as chefs-de-race, across five categories running from speed towards stamina: Brilliant, Intermediate, Classic, Solid and Professional. The resulting Dosage Profile, Dosage Index (DI) and Centre of Distribution (CD) summarise those influences numerically. They describe a pedigree balance, rather than measuring a horse’s actual speed or providing a complete assessment of its ability.

Why look at it over jumps?

National Hunt races can place very different demands on a horse: the pace of a two-mile hurdle is a different test from a staying chase over three miles or more. Distance, ground and the way a race is run all affect the demands on stamina. Pedigree offers another angle when considering whether a horse may suit that test, particularly when stepping up in trip or tackling a more demanding race. Jumping, fitness and current form remain important parts of the assessment.

How DRT puts it to work

Dosage Race Trends starts with the race itself. It examines the dosage profiles of previous winners and looks for recurring patterns, then compares the current runners with that historical picture. The question is whether a runner has a pedigree balance similar to horses that have succeeded in this particular contest, rather than assuming one dosage figure suits every National Hunt race.

Those comparisons sit alongside current form and race analysis. Historical matches are useful context, not automatic selections: DRT is designed to help members explore the evidence and form their own opinions.

• Dosage Trends: explore past winners, pedigree measures and race-specific patterns.
• Current Race: study form, performance, sectionals, projected pace and trainer and jockey information.
• Horse Profiler: filter previous runs by distance, going and course, then inspect the relevant form.
• Race assessment and Pegasus DRT Picks: read my interpretation of the research, including the main and outsider selections, alongside the supporting evidence.

Reports are grouped by date, with a separate link for each race covered. The selections are one part of the report; the wider aim is to provide useful research and a different perspective for your own race analysis.