Aptitude Profile Explained
The Aptitude Profile shows the ages and distances at which horses with a given pedigree pattern have won. It answers two questions breeders and buyers ask about any pedigree: how far, and how early?
It works from results. Each win is plotted where it happened, by distance and age, so you see what comparable horses actually did rather than what theory suggests.
Where you'll find it
- Pedigree Search: the Aptitude Profile tab on the results page, built from the stakes winners your search returned. See Evaluate Ancestor Success with Pedigree Search.
- Stallion Match: alongside the results, built from the matched stakes winners. See Stallion Match Explained.
- Broodmare Reports: on each mating page. See Our Broodmare Analysis Report.
Reading the chart
Distance runs along the bottom, from 800m (4f) to 2800m (14f) and beyond. Age runs up the side, in rows for 2YO, 3YO and 4YO+.
- Each bubble is the stakes wins at that age and distance. The bigger the bubble, the more wins.
- Hover over a bubble to see the horses behind it and the level of each win, such as G1 or L. A horse that won more than once at that age and distance appears once for each win.
The table
Under the chart, a table breaks the stakes winners down by country, with a total row:
- Winners, split by level: G1, G2, G3 and L (Listed)
- Male and Female
- 2YO, 3YO and 4YO+
- Sprint, Middle and Staying
- Dirt, Turf and Synthetic
In Broodmare Reports
On a Broodmare Report mating page, the Aptitude Profile switches between Winners and Stakes Winners, and shows the average winning distance, the average winning age and the male to female split for that mating.
Reading the shape
- Weighted to the left and bottom: wins at shorter trips and at two, pointing to speed and precocity.
- Weighted to the right and top: wins over further at four and older, pointing to a horse that needs time and distance.
- Spread across the chart: versatility, or a pattern that isn't strongly directional.
Reading it honestly
Check how many wins sit behind the chart before reading much into its shape. A handful of wins can make a pattern look clearer than it is.
Racing programmes also differ. A pattern with few wins beyond a mile in a country with few longer races hasn't been tested at further. In Pedigree Search, use the Country Filter to focus on one racing jurisdiction.
For the same question asked of individual ancestors, see Reading the Distance Profile.