Hyperion (18 April 1930 – 9 December 1960) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, a dual classic winner, an outstanding sire, and considered to be one of the most important Thoroughbreds of the 20th century.
Owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, Hyperion won GBP £29,509 during his racing career—a considerable sum at the time. His victories included the Epsom Derby and the St. 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.
History Hyperion was born on 18 April 1930. His thoroughbred sire was Gainsborough, who was one of three wartime Triple Crown winners in the United Kingdom. His dam was Selene, her sire was Chaucer, the son of St. Simon. Selene was the dam of sires such as Sickle (GB) (sireline ancestor of Native Dancer and Sea Bird), Pharamond (US), and Hunter's Moon (GB). Hyperion was linebred 3x4 to St. Simon.
The colt was bred and owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, who hired George Lambton to train him.
According to writer Avalyn Hunter on Hyperion's conformation: "[Hyperion was a] muscular, powerfully built chestnut horse...he was short-legged and long-bodied for his height [], 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."
Racing career 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, the Epsom Derby, the Prince of Wales Stakes, and the St. Leger Stakes.
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, the Ascot 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.
Stud record 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 the leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland for six times, counting amongst his progeny: Aureole (GB) H, 1950 — Coronation Cup (1954), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1954) Godiva (GB) M, 1937 — 1,000 Guineas (1940), New Oaks Stakes (1940) Gulf Stream (GB) H, 1943 — Gimcrack Stakes (1945), Eclipse Stakes (1946) Hypericum (GB) M, 1943 — Dewhurst Stakes (1945), 1,000 Guineas (1946) Owen Tudor (GB) H, 1938 — Epsom Derby (1941), Ascot Gold Cup (1942) Pensive (US) H, 1941 — Kentucky Derby (1944), Preakness Stakes (1944) Sun Castle (GB) H, 1938 — St Leger Stakes (1941) Sun Chariot (IRE) M, 1939 — 1,000 Guineas (1942), Epsom Oaks (1942), St Leger Stakes (1942) Sun Stream (GB) M, 1942 — 1,000 Guineas (1945), Epsom Oaks (1945) Heliopolis (GB) H, 1936 — was sold to an American breeder for whom he stood in Kentucky and was the leading sire in North America twice in 1950 and 1954.
Hyperion's daughters foaled the winners of 1,196 races and GBP £1,131,346. He was also the damsire of Nearctic, who in turn sired Northern Dancer, the 20th century's greatest sire. He is also the damsire of Citation, one of the greatest American champions.
In Australia and New 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 artist Martin Stainforth to paint a portrait of Hyperion.
A lifesize statue modelled by John 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 the National Horseracing Museum (also in Newmarket), lent by the Animal Health Trust to replace the skeleton of Eclipse.
When Hyperion died, Lord Derby and associates toasted him from a bottle of cognac that had been opened in honor of Winston Churchill, and drank to "The two greatest Grand Old Men of our time."
Sire line tree
HyperionJumpers: Darley Arabian Sire LineSire Line: Camel Darley Arabian Sire Line: Newminster BranchPortrait: HyperionBiography: HyperionHall of Fame: HyperionAmerican Classic Pedigree: Hyperion Half Crown Haffaday Admiral's Walk Casanova Golden Surprise Cornishman HeliopolisPortrait: HeliopolisAmerican Classic Pedigree: Heliopolis Marine Victory Ace Admiral Ace MarineCanadian Hall of Fame: Ace Marine Inside Tract Frosty Admiral OlympiaAmerican Classic Pedigree: Olympia DecathlonHall of Fame: DecathlonAmerican Classic Pedigree: Decathlon Western Warrior Air Pilot Greek Game Lucky Mel Alhambra Talent Show Winonly Editorialist Pia Star PoleyPoley Wins San Antonio Creme dela Creme Cafe PrinceImage: Cafe PrinceHall of Fame: Cafe PrinceAmerican Classic Pedigree: Cafe Prince Rich Cream Top BidAmerican Classic Pedigree: Top Bid Greek Ship Greek Song Greek MoneyAmerican Classic Pedigree: Greek Money Charlie McAdam Dhaulagiri Dhaudevi Helioscope High GunAmerican Classic Pedigree: High Gun Summer TanAmerican Classic Pedigree: Summer Tan Sunrise County Rose Trellis Grey Eagle Little Bit Globemaster His Highness Perhapsburg Lucius Hypnotist Quick Ray Helios WodallaWodalla Was Our First Cup Winner Since 1948 Hippius Stardust Stalino Three Cheers Great Ovation Bright News Casmiri Ben NevisHall of Fame: Ben Nevis Star KingdomPortrait: Star KingdomRemembering Star KingdomThe Star Kingdom Dynasty KingsterPortrait: Kingster Star Realm Gold Stakes TodmanPortrait: TodmanAustralian Racing Museum: TodmanScone Vet Dynasty: Todman Cambaman Eskimo Prince Prince Of Baden Joking Crewman Ricochet Beaches New Gleam Blazing Saddles Bootee Imposing Mighty Kingdom Skyline Sky Sailor Fine and Dandy NoholmePortrait: NoholmeAmerican Classic Pedigree: Noholme II NodoubleAmerican Classic Pedigree: Nodouble Shecky GreeneAmerican Classic Pedigree: Shecky Greene Brigand General Holme Fools Holme Royal Artist Secret Kingdom Sky HighPortrait: Sky HighAustralian Racing Museum: Sky High Captain Kirk Skyperion AutobiographyAmerican Classic Pedigree: Autobiography Sky Cast's Double Sky High's Son Take Off Columbia Star Shifnal Sun Monarch Sunset Hue GunsyndAustralian Racing Museum5 SHADES OF GREY RACEHORSES – GUNSYND Time And Tide Faringdon Navajo Brave Sabron Star Of Heaven Star Shower King Star Star Affair BiscayPortrait: BiscayScone Vet Dynasty: Biscay BletchinglyScone Vet Dynasty: Bletchingly Zephyr Bay MarscayScone Vet Dynasty: Marscay Kaoru Star Luskin StarScone Vet Dynasty: Luskin StarThe ‘Colt from the Coalfields’ who remains a cult hero in his home town Full On Aces Old Spice Rajah Coalcliff Osmunda Planet Kingdom Just Ideal Ming Dynasty Mighty Kingdom Cosmic Planet Ideal Planet Our Planet Leica Planet Red God Pacifica Tattenham Gala Performance Gala Crest Gala Supreme AlibhaiPortrait: AlibhaiAmerican Classic Pedigree: Alibhai Cover Up On Trust Trackmaster Solidarity Your HostAmerican Classic Pedigree: Your Host Blen Host Social Climber KelsoHall of Fame: KelsoAmerican Classic Pedigree: Kelso Windy Sands Crystal Water My Host Chevation DetermineAmerican Classic Pedigree: Determine WarfareAmerican Classic Pedigree: Warfare AssagaiAmerican Classic Pedigree: Assagai DecidedlyAmerican Classic Pedigree: Decidedly Tinajero Wardlaw Donut King BardstownBardstown: The Persistent ProdigyThe Keeneland Library: Bardstown Honeys Alibi Traffic JudgeAmerican Classic Pedigree: Traffic Judge Green Ticket Delta Judge Traffic Rheffic Traffic Bridge Branch CountyPush to Get Show Jumper Branch County Into Hall of Fame Court Recess Traffic Mark Judgeable Rest Your Case Traffic Cop Deputed TestamonyAmerican Classic Pedigree: Deputed TestamonyMaryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame: Deputed TestamonyPreakness memories: Deputed Testamony boosted Catholic family’s racing business, teen jockey’s careerMaryland Catholic family recalls horse that boosted its livelihood, teen jockey’s career in ‘83 PreaknessLegendary trainer Bill Boniface reflects on training last Maryland-bred horse to win Preakness Court Ruling Sharpsburg Oligarchy Mr Consistency Devonian Herring Gull Orthodox Owen TudorPortrait: Owen TudorAlthough never a champion sire, Owen Tudor was the sire of champions Tudor MinstrelAmerican Classic Pedigree: Tudor Minstrel Buckhound Royal Buck King Of The Tudors Henry The Seventh Crocket Golden Ruler Poona Will Somers Balidar Pentotal Sallymount Tomy LeeAmerican Classic Pedigree: Tomy Lee Jeep Driver Tudor Melody Kashmir Tudor Music Welsh Pageant Tarim Sing Sing Celtic Song Manacle Jukebox Song Mummy's Pet Singing Bede African Sky Saulingo Averof Abernant Thin Ice Aberli Welsh Rake Abgar Carlsberg Zahedan Eplenor Tudor Era Right RoyalImage: Right Royal Salvo Ruysdael Rangong Hyperno Ring the Bell In The Purple Gold and Black Prince Regent Politico Party Politics Kambalda Miinnehoma Irish Selim HassanAmerican Classic Pedigree: Selim Hassan Cid Chispeado YatastoAmerican Classic Pedigree: Yatasto Yata Nahuel Sol Oriens Sun Castle Hyacinthus Hyperides Sun King SundewSundew Inks a Spectacular Win in the 1957 Grand National Deimos Coastal Traffic Buisson d'Or Pot d'Or PensivePortrait: PensiveAmerican Classic Pedigree: Pensive PonderAmerican Classic Pedigree: PonderThe Keeneland Library: Ponder NeedlesHall of Fame: NeedlesAmerican Classic Pedigree: Needles Theory Cyclotron Barnaby's Bluff Red Mars Rockafella RockavonHow Scottish trained 2000 Guineas winner Rockavon earned his status as a Scottish sporting great Ruthless Greek Star Anglo High Peak Aldis Lamp Gulf StreamPortrait: Gulf StreamAmerican Classic Pedigree: Gulf Stream Manganga Gulf Weed Pipote Anisado Manantial Mamboreta Montparnasse Riesgo KhaledPortrait: KhaledAmerican Classic Pedigree: Khaled Dulac Big Noise Correspondent SherluckAmerican Classic Pedigree: Sherluck Dot Ed's Bluesky El Drag Hillary SwapsHall of Fame: SwapsAmerican Classic Pedigree: SwapsSwaps: The Legendary Thoroughbred Who Redefined Horse RacingSwaps: 1956 Horse of the Year ChateaugayAmerican Classic Pedigree: Chateaugay True Knight Hokuto Flag No RobberyAmerican Classic Pedigree: No Robbery Wind and Wuthering Eurasian Laramie TrailAmerican Classic Pedigree: Laramie Trail Librado Lupin Pitador Prodigo Lin Yutang Terrang Terlago California Kid Khalex Albany Linmold New Policy Reb's Policy Town Policy Physician Going Abroad Corn Off The Cob Radiotherapy Sky High Pas de Quatre Huron Empyrean Hyperbole Babu's Pet Rolled Gold AristophanesAmerican Classic Pedigree: Aristiphanes Atlas Booz ForliAmerican Classic Pedigree: Forli Home Guard Luigi ForegoHall of Fame: ForegoAmerican Classic Pedigree: ForegoForego May be Most Remarkable Horse Ever ThatchAmerican Classic Pedigree: Thatch Thatching Final Straw Stifelius Achieved Tanque Verde Tommy Way Shulich Forceten Intrepid Hero Fordham Formidable Forzando Efisio Chilibang Key To Content Posse Altayan Sheriff's Star Linpac West Sadeem Dorileo Frari Hylander Judicate AureolePortrait: Aureole St Crespin St Columbus Maori Venture Whispin St Paddy St Puckle What A Nuisance Connaught Sir Montagu Connaught Ranger