Undefeated in nine starts, including the 1884 Ascot Gold Cup, St. Simon might have enjoyed an even higher reputation had he been able to compete in the 1883 English Classics, for he defeated all five of the Classic winners of his year in private trials at one time or another. Nonetheless, St. Simon's accomplishments in the stud dwarf what he did as a racehorse. One of the most remarkable stallions of all time, he led the English general sire list nine times and proved both a great sire of sires and a great broodmare sire.
Race record
9 starts, 9 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, £4,675
1883:
1884:
Honors
Assessments
In a May 1886 poll of 100 racing experts conducted by The Sporting Times, St. Simon was ranked as the fourth best English racehorse of the 19th century.
As an individual
A beautifully balanced brown horse with a tremendous shoulder, a short back, clean legs and strong, well-rounded quarters, St. Simon stood 16 hands (16.1 hands according to some accounts) and was about three inches taller than he was long. His only physical flaw was being over at the knee; however, his temperament left much to be desired and worsened with age. Most accounts make him out to be quite vicious; however, Welbeck Abbey stud groom John Huby had a different opinion, stating that the horse was extremely high-strung rather than mean and required gentle and patient treatment. Huby did agree with others that St. Simon was a highly dominant type and would react badly to attempts to subdue him by force.
As a stallion
St. Simon sired 423 live foals; according to the Australian Bloodhorse Review’s 2006 reference work Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World, he sired 314 winners (74.2%) and 107 stakes winners (25.3%). Aside from great ability, good conformation, and a brilliant turn of foot, St. Simon also tended to bequeath difficult temperaments. Many of his offspring, especially his fillies, were on the small side.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Amiable (GB), Bill of Portland (GB), Chaucer (GB), Darley Dale (GB), Desmond (GB), Diamond Jubilee (GB), Festa (GB), Florizel II (GB), La Fleche (GB), La Roche (GB), Matchbox (GB), Memoir (GB), Mrs. Butterwick (GB), Persimmon (GB), Pietermaritzburg (GB), Rabelais (GB), Raconteur (GB), Sanderling (GB), Santa Brigida (GB), Semolina (GB), Signorina (GB), Simonian (GB), Soult (GB), St. Frusquin (GB), St. Serf (GB), William the Third (GB), Winifreda (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Aldeana (ARG), Almissa (GB), Bomba (GB), Campesino (ARG), Cherimoya (GB), Fascination (GB), Fels (GER), Fervor (GER), Gorgos (GB), Greatorex (GB), Henry the First (GB), Petulance (FR), Plucky Liege (GB), Red Streak (AUS), Rock Sand (GB), Signorinetta (GB), Silurian (GB), Snow Marten (GB), Toboggan (GB), Wool Winder (GB), Zig Zag (ARG)
Connections
Foaled at Barrow's Paddocks, St. Simon was bred by Prince Gustavus Batthyany, who nominated him to the Two Thousand Guineas but not the Derby Stakes or the St. Leger Stakes. Even had St. Simon been nominated to the other Classics, he would not have been able to compete as Prince Batthyany's death while St. Simon was still an unraced youngster voided the colt's nominations under the rules of racing then extant. St. Simon ended up racing for William Cavendish-Bentinck, the 6th Duke of Portland, who purchased the colt from the dispersal of Prince Batthyany's stock for 1,600 guineas. St. Simon was intended to race at 4 but never recovered from jarring of his legs suffered in his final 3-year-old start and entered stud at Mat Dawson's Heath Farm in 1886. In 1887, he moved to the Duke's Welbeck Abbey Stud, where he stood until 1894. At that time, he was moved to Rufford Abbey due to an abortion epidemic at Welbeck Abbey and remained there through the 1895 season. St. Simon returned to Welbeck Abbey in 1896 and remained there until his death from an apparent heart attack while returning from exercise on April 2, 1908. For some reason, St. Simon did not cover mares in 1908 prior to his death although he was said to be fertile and in excellent health.
Pedigree notes
St. Simon is inbred 5x5 to six-time English leading sire Sultan. He is a full brother to Angelica, dam of the high-class racehorse and successful sire Orme (by Ormonde) and the good stakes winner Blue Green (by Coeruleus). Angelica is also the third dam of 1907 Brooklyn Handicap winner and useful sire Superman.
As recorded in the General Stud Book, St. Simon's pedigree traces back in direct male line to the Darley Arabian via Eclipse. In June 2017, the periodical Current Biology published an article titled "Y Chromosome Uncovers the Recent Oriental Origin of Modern Stallions." Written by Barbara Wallner et al, the article discusses research involving yDNA, which is located on the Y chromosome and is passed only from father to son. Among the horses tested were ten descended in direct male line from St. Simon's sons Persimmon and St. Frusquin. All proved to possess yDNA compatible with male-line descent from the Byerley Turk via Herod rather than the Eclipse male line, suggesting that the pedigree for St. Simon is in fact incorrect and that one of the great sire's male-line ancestors was sired by a Herod-line horse rather than the sire officially recorded. A discussion of this finding and the likely places where an error might have been introduced can be found at https://www.bloodlines.net/highflyer/investigation11.htm. Another discussion with a different conclusion regarding the possible location of the error can be found at https://www.truenicks.com/articles/241170/galopin-new-research-and-an-answer-to-an-old-question?fbclid=IwAR3IWeKL9Q3-Zwpuw3JodW_PdQiTAdLMCA2-c5BQsuvjPXujZyCkKZCl3cs.
Books and media
St. Simon is one of 50 stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; reprinted in 1974).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: February 7, 2022
Race record
9 starts, 9 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, £4,675
1883:
- Won Halnaker Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Goodwood)
- Won Devonshire Nursery Plate (ENG, 5FT, Derby)
- Won Princess of Wales's Nursery Plate (ENG, 7FT, Doncaster)
- Won a match race with Duke of Richmond (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
1884:
- Won Epsom Gold Cup (ENG, 10FT, Epsom; walked over)
- Won Ascot Gold Cup (ENG, 20FT, Ascot)
- Won Newcastle Gold Cup (ENG, 8FT, Newcastle)
- Won Goodwood Cup (ENG, 20FT, Goodwood)
Honors
- English champion 2-year-old male (1882)
- English champion 3-year-old male (1883)
Assessments
In a May 1886 poll of 100 racing experts conducted by The Sporting Times, St. Simon was ranked as the fourth best English racehorse of the 19th century.
As an individual
A beautifully balanced brown horse with a tremendous shoulder, a short back, clean legs and strong, well-rounded quarters, St. Simon stood 16 hands (16.1 hands according to some accounts) and was about three inches taller than he was long. His only physical flaw was being over at the knee; however, his temperament left much to be desired and worsened with age. Most accounts make him out to be quite vicious; however, Welbeck Abbey stud groom John Huby had a different opinion, stating that the horse was extremely high-strung rather than mean and required gentle and patient treatment. Huby did agree with others that St. Simon was a highly dominant type and would react badly to attempts to subdue him by force.
As a stallion
St. Simon sired 423 live foals; according to the Australian Bloodhorse Review’s 2006 reference work Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World, he sired 314 winners (74.2%) and 107 stakes winners (25.3%). Aside from great ability, good conformation, and a brilliant turn of foot, St. Simon also tended to bequeath difficult temperaments. Many of his offspring, especially his fillies, were on the small side.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1890-1896, 1900, and 1901; 2nd in 1902; 3rd in 1904; 5th in 1908; 7th in 1905.
- Led the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1903-1907 and 1916; 2nd in 1902, 1908, and 1909; 3rd in 1910 and 1912; 5th in 1900; 6th in 1928; 8th in 1911; 9th in 1901, 1913, 1919, and 1920
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1890-1896, 1900, and 1901.
- Led the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1903-1907 and 1916.
Notable progeny
Amiable (GB), Bill of Portland (GB), Chaucer (GB), Darley Dale (GB), Desmond (GB), Diamond Jubilee (GB), Festa (GB), Florizel II (GB), La Fleche (GB), La Roche (GB), Matchbox (GB), Memoir (GB), Mrs. Butterwick (GB), Persimmon (GB), Pietermaritzburg (GB), Rabelais (GB), Raconteur (GB), Sanderling (GB), Santa Brigida (GB), Semolina (GB), Signorina (GB), Simonian (GB), Soult (GB), St. Frusquin (GB), St. Serf (GB), William the Third (GB), Winifreda (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Aldeana (ARG), Almissa (GB), Bomba (GB), Campesino (ARG), Cherimoya (GB), Fascination (GB), Fels (GER), Fervor (GER), Gorgos (GB), Greatorex (GB), Henry the First (GB), Petulance (FR), Plucky Liege (GB), Red Streak (AUS), Rock Sand (GB), Signorinetta (GB), Silurian (GB), Snow Marten (GB), Toboggan (GB), Wool Winder (GB), Zig Zag (ARG)
Connections
Foaled at Barrow's Paddocks, St. Simon was bred by Prince Gustavus Batthyany, who nominated him to the Two Thousand Guineas but not the Derby Stakes or the St. Leger Stakes. Even had St. Simon been nominated to the other Classics, he would not have been able to compete as Prince Batthyany's death while St. Simon was still an unraced youngster voided the colt's nominations under the rules of racing then extant. St. Simon ended up racing for William Cavendish-Bentinck, the 6th Duke of Portland, who purchased the colt from the dispersal of Prince Batthyany's stock for 1,600 guineas. St. Simon was intended to race at 4 but never recovered from jarring of his legs suffered in his final 3-year-old start and entered stud at Mat Dawson's Heath Farm in 1886. In 1887, he moved to the Duke's Welbeck Abbey Stud, where he stood until 1894. At that time, he was moved to Rufford Abbey due to an abortion epidemic at Welbeck Abbey and remained there through the 1895 season. St. Simon returned to Welbeck Abbey in 1896 and remained there until his death from an apparent heart attack while returning from exercise on April 2, 1908. For some reason, St. Simon did not cover mares in 1908 prior to his death although he was said to be fertile and in excellent health.
Pedigree notes
St. Simon is inbred 5x5 to six-time English leading sire Sultan. He is a full brother to Angelica, dam of the high-class racehorse and successful sire Orme (by Ormonde) and the good stakes winner Blue Green (by Coeruleus). Angelica is also the third dam of 1907 Brooklyn Handicap winner and useful sire Superman.
As recorded in the General Stud Book, St. Simon's pedigree traces back in direct male line to the Darley Arabian via Eclipse. In June 2017, the periodical Current Biology published an article titled "Y Chromosome Uncovers the Recent Oriental Origin of Modern Stallions." Written by Barbara Wallner et al, the article discusses research involving yDNA, which is located on the Y chromosome and is passed only from father to son. Among the horses tested were ten descended in direct male line from St. Simon's sons Persimmon and St. Frusquin. All proved to possess yDNA compatible with male-line descent from the Byerley Turk via Herod rather than the Eclipse male line, suggesting that the pedigree for St. Simon is in fact incorrect and that one of the great sire's male-line ancestors was sired by a Herod-line horse rather than the sire officially recorded. A discussion of this finding and the likely places where an error might have been introduced can be found at https://www.bloodlines.net/highflyer/investigation11.htm. Another discussion with a different conclusion regarding the possible location of the error can be found at https://www.truenicks.com/articles/241170/galopin-new-research-and-an-answer-to-an-old-question?fbclid=IwAR3IWeKL9Q3-Zwpuw3JodW_PdQiTAdLMCA2-c5BQsuvjPXujZyCkKZCl3cs.
Books and media
St. Simon is one of 50 stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; reprinted in 1974).
Fun facts
- Simon Zelotes was one of Jesus' 12 apostles and was canonized as St. Simon in the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes another St. Simon, Simon the Athonite, who founded the monastery of Simonopetra on Mouth Athos in Greece.
- The Duke of Portland had originally gone to the Batthyany dispersal with the intent of buying Fulmen, the previous season's best juvenile. Fulmen, however, went for a higher price than the Duke's limit, and His Grace ended up buying the next lot in the ring, St. Simon. His interest in the latter colt, initially low, may have been increased when his trainer, Mat Dawson, realized that a white substance spread on the colt's hock was only ordinary paint and not a blistering agent. This led Dawson to suspect that his brother John, who had been Prince Batthyany's trainer, might have been trying to frighten bidders away from St. Simon so that he or a friend could buy the colt.
- Following St. Simon's score by 20 lengths in the 1884 Ascot Gold Cup, he was so full of energy that it took another circuit of the course before famed jockey Fred Archer could pull him up.
- St. Simon was afraid of umbrellas.
- St. Simon and his sire line scored an unusual 1-2-3 on the English general sire list of 1896, when St. Simon was first, his son St. Serf was second, and his sire Galopin was third.
- All of St. Simon's offspring were either bay or brown except for one gray filly, the produce of a gray dam.
- Following St. Simon's death, his skeleton was donated to the British Museum of Natural History. One of his hooves is on display at The Jockey Club's office at Newmarket, England, while two more are at the Racing Museum in York, England.
- The St. Simon Stakes is a Group 3 race at Newbury, England. Run over 12 furlongs plus five yards, it was inaugurated in 1969.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: February 7, 2022