'So if you say there's a genetic reality to all this, you ought to apply the rules of genetics. 'I'm a scientist and I have a belief in science,' says Brown. It ran just four times and failed to win once. In 2006 the bay two-year-old colt with an impeccable pedigree sold at auction for $16m – the highest price of a publicly auctioned thoroughbred. The Green Monkey is a classic example of the dangers of relying on bloodlines. He was aware that pedigree can be a poor guide to quality: an ancestor five generations back contributes 3% of an animal's DNA. He is sometimes called the wealthiest ex-journalist in Britain and is fascinated, and knowledgeable, about molecular genetics. A former science correspondent of the Daily Express in the 1960s, he made his fortune in science publishing. Indeed, breeding decisions are made almost entirely by studying pedigree – the records of bloodlines and race results that go back generations.īut Philip Brown isn't a typical owner. The Jockey Club insists on gene tests to confirm parentage, but bans the use of cloned horses – even though in 2012 the International Federation for Equestrian Sports announced that clones would be allowed to compete in future Olympic Games. Looking at the DNA of horses to find good breeding stock may seem obvious, but it goes against centuries of tradition in this most conservative of sports where suspicion of applied molecular genetics is rife.

His decision to use him only came after he had consulted a British company that screens equine genes to find the best possible match.

Any wealthy owner aiming to produce a quality thoroughbred would consider Frankel as a suitor, but Brown didn't want to leave anything to chance. Last week, his first foal to be sold at public auction was snapped up for £1.15m. The first Frankel foal sold at public auction for £1.5m.

Real life genetic horse game