| Hyperion | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Sire | Gainsborough |
| Grandsire | Bayardo |
| Dam | Selene |
| Damsire | Chaucer |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | (1930-04-18)18 April 1930 |
| Died | 9 December 1960(1960-12-09) (aged 30) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby |
| Owner | Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby |
| Trainer | George Lambton |
| Record | 13: 9–1–2 |
| Earnings | £29,509 |
| Major wins | |
| New Stakes (1932) Dewhurst Stakes (1932) Prince of Wales's Stakes (1933) Chester Vase (1933) Epsom Derby (1933) St Leger Stakes (1933) | |
| Awards | |
| Leading Sire in GB & Ireland (1940, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1954) Leading Broodmare Sire in Britain & Ireland (1948, 1957, 1967, 1968) | |
| Last updated on 1 September 2022 | |
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Hyperion (18 April 1930 – 9 December 1960) was aBritish-bredThoroughbredracehorse, a dual classic winner, an outstanding sire, and considered to be one of the most importantThoroughbreds of the 20th century.[1]
Owned byEdward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, Hyperion won GBP £29,509 during his racing career—a considerable sum at the time. His victories included theEpsom Derby and theSt. Leger Stakes. He was the most successful British-bred sire of the 20th century and the champion sire in the UK six times between 1940 and 1954.[2]
Hyperion was born on 18 April 1930.[3] He was by the goodThoroughbred sireGainsborough, who was one of three wartimeTriple Crown winners in theUnited Kingdom. His dam, Selene, was by Chaucer, a talented son of the undefeatedSt. Simon. Selene was also the dam of such good sires such asSickle (GB) (sireline ancestor ofNative Dancer andSea Bird),Pharamond (US), and Hunter's Moon (GB). Hyperion waslinebred 3x4 to St. Simon.
The colt was bred and owned byEdward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, who hiredGeorge Lambton to train him.
According to writer Avalyn Hunter on Hyperion'sconformation: "[Hyperion was a] muscular, powerfully built chestnut horse...he was short-legged and long-bodied for his height [15.1 hands (61 inches, 155 cm)], and somewhat ewe-necked and straight-shouldered, but had excellent action. He was light-boned below the knee. Although he had a distinct personality, and could have a mind of his own, he had a calm disposition. He was a thoroughly lazy horse at work, which was unfortunate as he needed a good deal of training to get into top condition, but was a determined performer on the race course."[3]
As 2-year-old, in 1932, Hyperion won the New Stakes at Ascot and the Dewhurst Stakes, plus a dead-heat in the Prince of Wales Stakes, from five starts in 1932. He was undefeated in four starts. In 1933, as a 3-year-old, Hyperion went on to win the Chester Vase, theEpsom Derby, the Prince of Wales Stakes, and theSt. Leger Stakes.[3]
He raced four times at the age of 4, winning two races, the March Stakes (ten furlongs) and the Burwell Stakes (showcase handicap), both contested at Newmarket. In his main race, theAscot Gold Cup, he placed third, after Felicitation and Thor. The 2.5 mile race indicated that he was not a true stayer. In the Dullingham Stakes at Newmarket, only two horses started where the 3-year-old, Caithness, carrying 8 st. 1 lb. defeated Hyperion carrying 10 st. 2 lb. by a short head.
He was retired to stud when he was 5 years old. He was a highly successful sire until his death on 9 December 1960, at the age of 30.
An important stallion, he sired the winners of 752 races, including 53 stakes winners that had 84 stakes wins, and was theleading sire in Great Britain & Ireland for six times, counting amongst his progeny:[4]
Hyperion's daughters foaled the winners of 1,196 races and GBP £1,131,346. He was also the damsire ofNearctic, who in turn siredNorthern Dancer, the 20th century's greatest sire. He is also the damsire of Citation, one of the greatest American champions.
InAustralia andNew Zealand, Hyperion's descendants have exerted a profound influence on the racing and breeding industry. This influence was introduced via Hyperion's foreign based sons and also by his imported sons, Empyrean[(GB) H, 1944], Helios[(GB) H, 1937], High Peak[(GB) H, 1942], Red Mars[(GB) H, 1941], and Ruthless[(GB) H, 1941], as well as paternal grandsons such as "Star King" (by Stardust(GB) H, 1937) later known as the outstanding sire,Star Kingdom.
Lord Derby commissioned equine artistMartin Stainforth to paint a portrait of Hyperion.
A lifesize statue modelled byJohn Skeaping in bronze of Hyperion stands at the front of the Jockey Club headquarters on Newmarket High Street. From 2009, his skeleton has been exhibited at theNational Horseracing Museum (also in Newmarket), lent by the Animal Health Trust to replace the skeleton ofEclipse.[3][5]
When Hyperion died, Lord Derby and associates toasted him from a bottle of cognac that had been opened in honor ofWinston Churchill, and drank to "The two greatest Grand Old Men of our time."[2]
| Sire Gainsborough Bay 1915 | Bayardo Bay 1906 | Bay Ronald | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Duchess | |||
| Galicia | Galopin | ||
| Isoletta | |||
| Rosedrop Br. 1907 | St. Frusquin | St. Simon | |
| Isabel | |||
| Rosaline | Trenton (NZ) | ||
| Rosalys | |||
| Dam Selene Bay 1919 | Chaucer Brown 1900 | St.Simon | Galopin |
| St.Angela | |||
| Canterbury Pilgrim | Tristan | ||
| Pilgrimage | |||
| Serenissima Bay 1913 | Minoru | Cyllene | |
| Mother Siegel | |||
| Gondolette | Loved One | ||
| Donogola (Family No. 6) |