Hyperion (GB)
April 18, 1930 – December 9, 1960
Gainsborough (GB) x Selene (GB), by Chaucer (GB)
Family 6-e
April 18, 1930 – December 9, 1960
Gainsborough (GB) x Selene (GB), by Chaucer (GB)
Family 6-e
So small as a foal that stable hands likened him to a Golden Retriever, Hyperion never grew very large but was “big enough” when it came to racing performance. The best 3-year-old of his year in England, he went on to become an even better sire than racehorse, wielding tremendous influence around the world through both sons and daughters.
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, £29,509
1932:
1933:
1934:
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1933)
Assessments
Rated second among English juvenile males of 1932 at 126 pounds, 1 pound below topweighted Manitoba, but both colts were weighted below the top three fillies in an exceptional year for juvenile females. Myrobella led all English juveniles with 133 pounds.
As an individual
A muscular, powerfully built chestnut horse, Hyperion stood 15.1-1/2 hands. 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.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Hyperion sired 265 winners (53.0%) and 96 stakes winners (19.2%) from 500 named foals of racing age. His progeny came in all shapes and sizes but he often passed on faulty hocks and a high-strung disposition that contrasted with his own placid demeanor. Hyperion is a Brilliant/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Notable progeny
Admiral's Walk (GB), Aldis Lamp (GB), Alibhai (GB), Aristophanes (GB), Aureole (GB), Avila (GB), Casanova (GB), Deimos (GB), Godiva (GB), Gulf Stream (GB), Heliopolis (GB), Helios (GB), High Hat (GB), High Veldt (GB), Hippius (GB), Hornbeam (GB), Hyacinthus (GB), Hycilla (GB), Hylander (GB), Hyperbole (GB), Hypericum (GB), Hyperides (GB), Judicate (GB), Khaled (GB), Ommeyad (GB), Opaline II (GB), Orthodox (GB), Owen Tudor (GB), Pensive (USA), Radiotherapy (GB), Red Mars (GB), Ruthless (GB), Selim Hassan (GB), Sol Oriens (GB), Sun Chariot (GB), Sun Stream (GB), Sunset III (GB), Sweet Cygnet (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Almeria (GB), Alycidon (GB), Aunt Edith (GB), Belle Sicambre (FR), Carrozza (GB), Citation (USA), Court Harwell (GB), Crewman (USA), Haltilala (FR), La Fuerza (USA), Ladycross (GB), Landau (IRE), Moonmadness (USA), Nagami (IRE), Nearctic (CAN), Noory (GB), Parthia (GB), Pretense (USA), Ribero (USA), Ribocco (USA), Royal Forest (GB), Sea Parrot (GB), Shantung (FR), Spring Double (USA), Supertello (GB), Tesco Boy (GB), Waterloo (GB)
Connections
Hyperion was bred and owned by the 17th Earl of Derby. He was trained by George Lambton through his 3-year-old season and by Colledge Leader at 4. He was humanely destroyed in 1960. His skeleton is on display at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.
Pedigree notes
Hyperion is inbred 4x3 to nine-time leading English sire St. Simon and 4x5x4 to St. Simon's sire Galopin, a first-class racer and sire in his own right. He is a half brother to multiple juvenile stakes winner Sickle and 1927 Middle Park Stakes winner Pharamond II, both by Phalaris and both important sires after importation to the United States. He is also a half brother to 1929 Newmarket Stakes winner Hunter's Moon (by Hurry On), an important sire in South America. In addition, Hyperion is a half brother to stakes-placed Coronal (by Coronach), dam of two-time Chilean leading sire Afghan II (by Mahmoud); to Hecate (by Felstead), dam of English stakes winner Downrush; to New Moon (by Solfo), dam of English stakes winners Turn a Penny (by Umidwar), Hervine (by Umidwar) and New Move (by Umberto); and to All Moonshine (by Gainsborough's son Bobsleigh), dam of multiple stakes winner and 1958 English leading sire Mossborough (by Nearco) and 1949 Lancashire Oaks winner Eyewash (by Blue Peter), dam of four stakes winners including 1959 Park Hill Stakes winner Collyria (by Arctic Prince). Through another daughter, stakes-placed All My Eye, All Moonshine is the third dam of six-time champion Australian sire Sir Tristram.
Selene, the dam of Hyperion, was the best English filly of her generation at both 2 and 3. A half sister to 1923 One Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes winner Tranquil (by Chaucer's half-brother Swynford) and 1930 Ascot Gold Cup winner Bosworth (by Son-in-Law), Selene was produced from Serenissima, a daughter of 1909 Derby Stakes winner Minoru. Serenissima also produced stakes-placed Composure, dam of 1936 Middle Park Stakes winner Fair Copy. The next dam in the female line, Gondolette (by Loved One) produced four stakes winners including the 1924 Derby Stakes winner, Sansovino (by Swynford), and is the second dam of 1932 English champion 2-year-old filly Myrobella, whose Bahram colt Big Game won the 1942 Two Thousand Guineas and was an important sire.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: July 2, 2022
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, £29,509
1932:
- Won New Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- Won Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Goodwood; dead heat with Stairway)
- Won Dewhurst Stakes (ENG, 7FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Boscawen Post Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Newmarket)
1933:
- Won Chester Vase (ENG, 12FT, Chester)
- Won Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
- Won Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 13FT, Ascot)
- Won St. Leger Stakes (ENG, about 14.5FT, Doncaster)
1934:
- Won March Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- Won Burwell Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Dullingham Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Ascot Gold Cup (ENG, 20FT, Ascot)
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1933)
Assessments
Rated second among English juvenile males of 1932 at 126 pounds, 1 pound below topweighted Manitoba, but both colts were weighted below the top three fillies in an exceptional year for juvenile females. Myrobella led all English juveniles with 133 pounds.
As an individual
A muscular, powerfully built chestnut horse, Hyperion stood 15.1-1/2 hands. 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.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Hyperion sired 265 winners (53.0%) and 96 stakes winners (19.2%) from 500 named foals of racing age. His progeny came in all shapes and sizes but he often passed on faulty hocks and a high-strung disposition that contrasted with his own placid demeanor. Hyperion is a Brilliant/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Notable progeny
Admiral's Walk (GB), Aldis Lamp (GB), Alibhai (GB), Aristophanes (GB), Aureole (GB), Avila (GB), Casanova (GB), Deimos (GB), Godiva (GB), Gulf Stream (GB), Heliopolis (GB), Helios (GB), High Hat (GB), High Veldt (GB), Hippius (GB), Hornbeam (GB), Hyacinthus (GB), Hycilla (GB), Hylander (GB), Hyperbole (GB), Hypericum (GB), Hyperides (GB), Judicate (GB), Khaled (GB), Ommeyad (GB), Opaline II (GB), Orthodox (GB), Owen Tudor (GB), Pensive (USA), Radiotherapy (GB), Red Mars (GB), Ruthless (GB), Selim Hassan (GB), Sol Oriens (GB), Sun Chariot (GB), Sun Stream (GB), Sunset III (GB), Sweet Cygnet (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Almeria (GB), Alycidon (GB), Aunt Edith (GB), Belle Sicambre (FR), Carrozza (GB), Citation (USA), Court Harwell (GB), Crewman (USA), Haltilala (FR), La Fuerza (USA), Ladycross (GB), Landau (IRE), Moonmadness (USA), Nagami (IRE), Nearctic (CAN), Noory (GB), Parthia (GB), Pretense (USA), Ribero (USA), Ribocco (USA), Royal Forest (GB), Sea Parrot (GB), Shantung (FR), Spring Double (USA), Supertello (GB), Tesco Boy (GB), Waterloo (GB)
Connections
Hyperion was bred and owned by the 17th Earl of Derby. He was trained by George Lambton through his 3-year-old season and by Colledge Leader at 4. He was humanely destroyed in 1960. His skeleton is on display at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.
Pedigree notes
Hyperion is inbred 4x3 to nine-time leading English sire St. Simon and 4x5x4 to St. Simon's sire Galopin, a first-class racer and sire in his own right. He is a half brother to multiple juvenile stakes winner Sickle and 1927 Middle Park Stakes winner Pharamond II, both by Phalaris and both important sires after importation to the United States. He is also a half brother to 1929 Newmarket Stakes winner Hunter's Moon (by Hurry On), an important sire in South America. In addition, Hyperion is a half brother to stakes-placed Coronal (by Coronach), dam of two-time Chilean leading sire Afghan II (by Mahmoud); to Hecate (by Felstead), dam of English stakes winner Downrush; to New Moon (by Solfo), dam of English stakes winners Turn a Penny (by Umidwar), Hervine (by Umidwar) and New Move (by Umberto); and to All Moonshine (by Gainsborough's son Bobsleigh), dam of multiple stakes winner and 1958 English leading sire Mossborough (by Nearco) and 1949 Lancashire Oaks winner Eyewash (by Blue Peter), dam of four stakes winners including 1959 Park Hill Stakes winner Collyria (by Arctic Prince). Through another daughter, stakes-placed All My Eye, All Moonshine is the third dam of six-time champion Australian sire Sir Tristram.
Selene, the dam of Hyperion, was the best English filly of her generation at both 2 and 3. A half sister to 1923 One Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes winner Tranquil (by Chaucer's half-brother Swynford) and 1930 Ascot Gold Cup winner Bosworth (by Son-in-Law), Selene was produced from Serenissima, a daughter of 1909 Derby Stakes winner Minoru. Serenissima also produced stakes-placed Composure, dam of 1936 Middle Park Stakes winner Fair Copy. The next dam in the female line, Gondolette (by Loved One) produced four stakes winners including the 1924 Derby Stakes winner, Sansovino (by Swynford), and is the second dam of 1932 English champion 2-year-old filly Myrobella, whose Bahram colt Big Game won the 1942 Two Thousand Guineas and was an important sire.
Books and media
- Hyperion, by Clive Graham, was published in 1967 by J. A. Allen & Co., Ltd. An updated edition was released by the same publisher in 1993.
- Hyperion is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
- Hyperion is profiled in Chapter 52 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released in 2006 by Eclipse Press) and in Chapter 17 of Sir Charles Leicester's Bloodstock Breeding (1957, J. A. Allen & Co. Ltd.; updated by Howard Wright and released in a second edition by the same firm in 1983).
Fun facts
- Hyperion was named for one of the Titans of Greek mythology, the father of the sun god Helios, the moon goddess Selene and the dawn goddess Eos.
- As a youngster, Hyperion was known as "Hippie" to Lord Derby's stable staff.
- An extremely curious horse, Hyperion displayed great interest in airplanes, birds and other flying objects.
- Hyperion's skeleton was displayed at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, England, until 2009, when it was moved to the National Horseracing Museum at Newmarket.
- Prior to buying Hyperion's son Alibhai as a yearling, Louis B. Mayer had offered US$1 million to buy Hyperion from Lord Derby. He was refused with the words, “Even though England be reduced to ashes, Hyperion shall never leave these shores.”
- A statue of Hyperion by sculptor John Skeaping stands in front of the Jockey Club offices at Newmarket.
Last updated: July 2, 2022