The term Dominant Classicity coined by Leon Rasmussen, describes a dosage profile in which the total number of Classic points exceeds the total of all the other points in the profile.

In simple terms, dosage theory seperates a horses inherited aptitudes into five categories - ranging from speed (Brilliant) to stamina (Professional). A horse's dosage profile reveals how many points he has has inherited in each of the five categories.

In his seminal work on dosage theory, "Dosage, Pedigree and Performance," Dr Steven Roman stated that Dominant Classicty is a feature found in only 18% of the total thoroughbred population; "and its effect on performance can be dramatic." He also stated, elsewhere, that "in general, dominant classicity correlates with the ability to stay a distance of ground and a possible affinity for turf racing even in the absence of stamina contributions from the Solid and Professional aptitudinal groups."

In terms of the actual dosage profile, Classic chefs-de-race are most often associated with the three-year old classic races. Dominant Classicity represents a combination of more and/or closer up Classic chefs-de-race in a pedigree; the concentration of these, representing superior breeding and indicating class.

El Gran Senor

As a simple example of dominant classicity, we will look at the dosage profile of El Gran Senor. It can be seen that he has a total of 11 points in the Classic segment of the profile. This far exceeds the total of seven points to be found in the Brilliant and Intermediate categories; whilst it can be seen that he has zero points in both the Solid and Professional segments. (a "double zero profile").

Dosage profile of El Gran Senor

Dyaln Thomas

On a glorious autumn afternoon at Longchamp, the Aidan O'Brien trained Dylan Thomas (4c Danehill-Lagrion, by Diesis)landed his sixth Group 1 success in the 2007 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The son of Danehill took the lead under Kieren Fallon in the final furlong and battled on gamely to beat Youmzain by a head in a great finish. Dylan Thomas’s haul of G1 successes includes the Irish Derby, two Irish Champion Stakes, the Prix Ganay, King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

Dosage profile of Dylan Thomas

Although it is true that not all good horses exhibit dominant classicity in their dosage profiles, it is certainly the case that many do. Of the five "Classic" races run in England in 2003, four were won by horses that boasted the feature in their profiles.

2000 Guineas

Dermot Weld's Refuse to Bend, despite being by Sadler's Wells and a half-brother to Media Puzzle demonstrated an abundance of speed when winning the Guineas trial at Leopardstown and the 2000 Guineas itself, at Newmarket in May. He subsequently went on to land the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown. In 2004, when trained by Godolphin he landed the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot (8 f's) and the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, run over 10 f's.

Dosage profiles of Refuse to Bend

2003 Derby/Oaks

With only eighteen per cent of the total thoroughbred population boasting Dominant Classicity, it may come as a surprise to many to see that the first two horses home in both the 2003 English Derby and the 2003 Oaks had dosage profiles which boasted dominant classicity.

Dosage profiles of the first two home in the 2003 Derby

Dosage profiles of the first two home in the 2003 Oaks

St Leger

Many had said before the race that Brian Boru lacked the resolution to win a St Leger - that he would bottle it if it came to a battle. However, as with so many of the top horses that boast dominant classicity, he displayed guts and tenacity aplenty, to land the race.

Coral Eclipse

Of the first eight in the betting on the Coral Eclipse, only Islington and Falbrav had boasted Dominant Classicity as a feature of their dosage profiles. The former, a big drfiter on-course, did not seem happy on the course over the distance; the latter, won the race and has gone on to prove himself to be one of the best horses in the world.

Irish Derby

Aidan O'Briens Roosevelt, belied his early morning odds of 250/1 to run into a place in the Irish Derby behind Alamshar. Whilst the horse had fitted into a similar pattern of many of O'Brien's three year old improvers, he was also one of the few runners in the field to boast a dosage profile containing Dominant Classicity.

Champion Stakes

Italian import Rakti landed the 10fs Champion Stakes at Newmarket in October under the evergreen Philip Robinson. His trainer described him as a tough and versatile horse that would, if fit, be upto competing with the best back over a mile. Of the thirteen horses in the field, only three had exhibited dominant classicity. In 2004 Rakti landed the Prince of Wales's Stakes over 10fs at Ascot, and, over the same course in September, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, over a mile.

Dewhurst Stakes

Milk it Mick, having his twelfth run of the season landed the odds at 33/1, leaving many tall reputations trailing in his wake. There were no excuses, as Osbourne's charge simply dug deep to outbattle the favourite, Three Valleys, in the last furlong. The horse has demonstrated versatility and tougness throughout the season, winning over 5, 6 and 7 furlongs - on the day, he showed that he also has a touch of class.

Rock Of Gibraltar

At three years the Aidan O'Brien trained Rock of Gibraltar landed the Sagitta 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Entenmann's Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and the NetJets Prix du Moulin at Longchamp; becoming the first horse to win seven consecutive Group 1 races. Described by the scribes at Timeform as a tough, genuine and consistent sort.

Dosage profile Rock of Gibraltar

Breeders Cup

Steve Roman recently noted, that since 1983, 18.8% of all Breeders Cup race winners were characterized by dominant classicity compared with 18.5% of all open US Stakes Winners. In 2003, five of the eight Breeders Cup winners exhibited the trait.......

Melbourne Cup

The winner of the 2003 Melbourne Cup Makybe Diva, was the first horse in 53 years to win the Cup with zero points in both the solid (S) and professional (P) categories. However, she did boast Dominant Classicity in her profile, alongside a high number of dosage points (2.41), relative to the historical average. She was also inbred 4x4 to Northern Dancer.

English/Irish1000 Guineas 2004

Mark Johnston's Attraction had won all her five starts as a two-year-old and was the highest-rated juvenile filly in Europe. However, she had never raced further than six furlongs and many doubted that she would have the stamina to see out the Classic mile. How wrong they were, as it lasted out enough to see her record an impressive stalls-to-line success in the first fillies Classic of the season. In Ireland, at the Curragh, Attraction became the first filly to add the Irish 1,000 Guineas to victory in the Newmarket equivalent, with another relentless front running performance. During a brilliant season she also landed the Coronation Stakes (Class A) (Group 1) Group 1 at Ascot (8 furlongs) and the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

2004 Epsom Derby

On his first run of his three-year-old season, North Light (by Danehill out of a Rainbow Quest mare) put himself forward as a lively Derby candidate, with a pleasing display in the Dante Stakes. Keen through the early stages of the race, he got into his stride, when sent for home about four furlongs out, knuckling down to the task resolutely, as his jockey wound up the tempo from the front. His conformation and running style suggested that he should handle the undulations of Epsom, and that he would be seen to good effect on better ground. It was no surprise to many, to see him emulate his stablemate Kris Kin in landing the Blue Riband. Like Kris Kin, he boasts a robust dosage profile, which, of course, includes dominant classicity.

Motivator and Authorized

When Motivator hit the front with more than two furlongs to go in the 2005 Epsom Derby it was soon all over. Accelerating impressively when given a crack, he went seven or eight lengths clear going to the furlong-marker; a margin that was reduced to five lengths by the finish, but which was still the widest winning margin since Generous in 1991. Authorized an impressive winner of the Racing Post Trophy and the Dante Stakes, stormed clear inside the final two furlongs to win the 2007 Epsom Drby by five lengths. He subsequently went on to claim the scalp of Dylan Thomas in the Juddmonte International Stakes, run over a 1 21/2fs at York.

Dosage profiles 2005/2007 Epsom Derby Winners

2004 Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe

Despite the fact that he was out of a Derby winner (Nashwan), by a Nureyev mare (Nureyev had been the sire of Arc winner Peintre Celebre), many had questioned Bago's ability to see out the mile and a half of the Arc. However, on faster ground at Longchamp than he had previously encountered, Europe's champion two-year-old of 2003, silenced the doubters, outsprinting the gallant Cherry Mix in the last 50 metres of the race.

Dosage profile of Bago winner of the 2004 Arc

Japanese Triple Crown Winner 2005

Deep Impact ("The Hero"), by Sunday Silence out of the Alzao mare Wind in her Hair, is something of a Japanese super horse. He won his first seven races, including the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas,2000 m, at Nakayama), the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby,2400 m, at Tokyo) and the Kikuka Sho(Japanese St. Leger Stakes,3000 m,at Kyoto). When landing the Kikuka Sho on November 23 2005, he become the first horse since Narita Brian 11 years earlier to complete the Japanese Triple crown; and the first unbeaten Japanese Triple crown winner since Shymboli Rudolf 21 years ago.

Dosage profile of Deep Impact

Yeats

A high-class performer who retained the mantle of being the best horse in the staying division in 2007. He won listed races at Navan in April and Leopardstown in May, before taking the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for the second time. Subsequently also went onto land the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh.

Dosage profile of Yeats

Duke of Marmalade

The G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes has been won by some outstanding horses in recent years and another star name was added to the roll of honour when Duke Of Marmalade (4h Danehill - Love Me True, by Kingmambo), a member of Danehill's final crop, cruised home four lengths clear of Phoenix Tower. Consistent last season when competing in the top grade, Duke Of Marmalade has been an even better horse this year, his Royal Ascot win following on from victories in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp and Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. He later went onto to stamp himself as a top class animal when landing the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Juddmonte International Stakes.

Dosage profile of Duke of Marmalade

Rainbow View

Unbeaten in four starts, the John Gosden trained Raibow View rounded off her two year old campagn with a comfortable victory in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile at Ascot. Unquestionably an outstanding juvenile, she is quoted of as low as 2-1 for the 1,000 Guineas.

Dosage profile of Rainbow View