A solid but not top-class stayer, Silurian won the 1923 Doncaster Cup and missed by a short head in the 1923 Ascot Gold Cup in a subpar year for Cup horses. He proved a better stallion than racehorse, leading the Argentine general sire list three times and proving an important sire of broodmares as well.
Race record
Complete record unavailable
1922:
1923:
As an individual
A handsome brown horse, Silurian was a good and honest stayer but lacked tactical speed and was slow to mature.
As a stallion
In spite of his own stamina and slow maturation, Silurian sired a surprising number of foals with speed and precocity.
Sire rankings
Per Gigantes genéticos (Dr. Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Black Arrow (ARG), Santiago (ARG), Signum (ARG), Silfo (ARG), Spit Fire (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Black Out (ARG), Blackie (ARG), Carnaval (ARG), Herbette (ARG), Hear! (ARG), Hulla (ARG), Taltal (ARG)
Connections
Silurian was bred and owned by Edward Stanley, the 17th Earl of Derby. He was exported to Argentina following his racing career and stood at Jorge Atucha's Haras El Pelado.
Pedigree notes
Silurian is inbred 4x2 to nine-time English/Irish champion sire St. Simon, 3x3 to 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass and 5x3x5 to St. Simon's sire Galopin, himself a winner of the 1875 Derby Stakes and a three-time English/Irish champion sire. He is a full brother to 1924 Yorkshire Oaks winner Blue Ice and a brother in blood to Crevasse (by Swynford's full brother Harry of Hereford), a winner of the Liverpool Autumn Cup. Silurian is also a half brother to 1928 Oaks Stakes winner Toboggan (by Hurry On), whose foals include 1935 Newmarket Stakes winner Bobsleigh (by Gainsborough; a useful sire) and Hydroplane II (by Hyperion), dam of the immortal Citation.
Silurian's dam Glacier was stakes-placed on the race course. She is out of the juvenile stakes winner Glasalt (by Isinglass), also the dam of the Chester Cup winner Glacis (by Carbine), 1910 Dewhurst Stakes and 1911 Ascot Derby winner King William (by William the Third), and 1916 One Thousand Guineas winner Canyon (by Chaucer). Canyon, in turn, produced 1931 Eclipse Stakes winner Caerleon, 1926 Two Thousand Guineas winner Colorado and 1923 Richmond Stakes winner Halcyon, all by Phalaris.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 4, 2023
Race record
Complete record unavailable
1922:
- Won Breeders' St. Leger (ENG, 11FT, Derby)
- 2nd Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 13FT, Ascot)
- 2nd St. Leger Stakes (ENG, 14f+132yT, Doncaster)
1923:
- Won Queen's Handicap (ENG, Kempton)
- Won Triennial Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- Won Doncaster Cup (ENG, 17FT, Doncaster)
- 2nd Ascot Gold Cup (ENG, 20FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Manchester Cup (ENG, 12FT, Manchester)
- 2nd Princess of Wales Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
As an individual
A handsome brown horse, Silurian was a good and honest stayer but lacked tactical speed and was slow to mature.
As a stallion
In spite of his own stamina and slow maturation, Silurian sired a surprising number of foals with speed and precocity.
Sire rankings
Per Gigantes genéticos (Dr. Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1930, 1931, and 1934; 10th in 1935.
- Led the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1943; 3rd in 1941; 5th in 1942; 8th in 1951; 9th in 1946 and 1948.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1930, 1931, and 1934; 10th in 1935.
- Led the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1942; 3rd in 1941.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1930, 1931, and 1934.
Notable progeny
Black Arrow (ARG), Santiago (ARG), Signum (ARG), Silfo (ARG), Spit Fire (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Black Out (ARG), Blackie (ARG), Carnaval (ARG), Herbette (ARG), Hear! (ARG), Hulla (ARG), Taltal (ARG)
Connections
Silurian was bred and owned by Edward Stanley, the 17th Earl of Derby. He was exported to Argentina following his racing career and stood at Jorge Atucha's Haras El Pelado.
Pedigree notes
Silurian is inbred 4x2 to nine-time English/Irish champion sire St. Simon, 3x3 to 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass and 5x3x5 to St. Simon's sire Galopin, himself a winner of the 1875 Derby Stakes and a three-time English/Irish champion sire. He is a full brother to 1924 Yorkshire Oaks winner Blue Ice and a brother in blood to Crevasse (by Swynford's full brother Harry of Hereford), a winner of the Liverpool Autumn Cup. Silurian is also a half brother to 1928 Oaks Stakes winner Toboggan (by Hurry On), whose foals include 1935 Newmarket Stakes winner Bobsleigh (by Gainsborough; a useful sire) and Hydroplane II (by Hyperion), dam of the immortal Citation.
Silurian's dam Glacier was stakes-placed on the race course. She is out of the juvenile stakes winner Glasalt (by Isinglass), also the dam of the Chester Cup winner Glacis (by Carbine), 1910 Dewhurst Stakes and 1911 Ascot Derby winner King William (by William the Third), and 1916 One Thousand Guineas winner Canyon (by Chaucer). Canyon, in turn, produced 1931 Eclipse Stakes winner Caerleon, 1926 Two Thousand Guineas winner Colorado and 1923 Richmond Stakes winner Halcyon, all by Phalaris.
Fun facts
- In geology, the Silurian Period is a geologic period first identified by Sir Roderick Impey Murchison. Extending from about 444 million years ago to about 419 million years ago, it falls between the earlier Ordovician Period and the later Devonian period and is notable for the emergence of vascular plants on land and for the diversification of bony fish species in the oceans. Murchison named the period after a Celtic tribe of Wales, the Silures.
Last updated: May 4, 2023