A beautifully bred horse, Selim Hassan was a blue-blooded failure on the race course, his only wins coming at third-tier venues. Nevertheless, he was a desirable prospect for the export market, as he was a son of Hyperion and a “nephew” of three-time English champion sire Blandford. Sent to Argentina, he made his own contribution to Hyperion’s reputation as a great international sire of sires but, like most of Hyperion’s sire sons, did not leave a son capable of continuing the line. He is best remembered as the sire of 1951 Argentine Quadruple Crown winner Yatasto, still remembered as one of the best racehorses ever seen in South America.
Race record
2 wins
1940:
As an individual
A bay horse, Selim Hassan was handsome and lengthy with excellent rein length and a fine shoulder but was a more impressive horse before the saddle than behind it.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Selim Hassan sired 47 winners (54.4%) and 21 stakes winners (7.0%) from 203 named foals. Records for his South American progeny are almost certainly incomplete.
Sire rankings
Per Gigantes genéticos (Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, www.haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Chispeada (ARG), Cid (ARG), Yatasto (ARG), Yauca (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Arturo A. (ARG), Cachetera (ARG), Call Me Bold (ARG), Caro Giglia (ARG), Cocasse (ARG)
Connections
Selim Hassan was exported to Argentina following his racing career. In Argentina, he was owned by Ignacio Correas. He entered stud service in 1943 at. Haras Las Ortigas. His last Argentine foals appear to have been registered in 1964.
Pedigree notes
Selim Hassan is inbred 4x4 to 1896 Oaks Stakes winner Canterbury Pilgrim; 5x4x5 to unbeaten 1884 Ascot Gold Cup winner St. Simon, a nine-time champion sire in England/Ireland; 5x5 to St. Simon’s sire Galopin, winner of the 1875 Derby Stakes and a three-time English champion sire; and 5x5 to the important matron Black Duchess (a daughter of 1883 Two Thousand Guineas winner Galliard, by Galopin). He is a half brother to Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Mange Tout (by Coronach) and to 1931 Stud Produce Stakes winner Tarte Maison (by Tetratema), dam of the good German stakes winner Traumerei (by Mirza II).
Selim Hassan’s dam, Blanc Mange, is a winning half sister (by Swynford’s son Hainault) to three-time English/Irish champion sire Blandford (by Swynford). She is also a half sister to 1933 Cesarewitch Stakes winner Seminole (by Diligence) and to John Porter Stakes winner Silver Hussar (by Silvern). In addition, she is a half sister to Nun’s Veil (by Friar Marcus), second dam of 1942 English champion 3-year-old filly Sun Chariot and third dam of 1957 Oaks Stakes winner Carozza.
Blanche, the dam of Blanc Mange, failed to win but is a half sister to Cherry Lass (by Isinglass), winner of the 1905 One Thousand Guineas and Oaks Stakes; to 1906 St. James’s Palace Stakes winner Black Arrow (by Count Schomberg); and to Jean’s Folly (by Ayrshire), the best Irish juvenile filly of 1903 and the dam of 1913 St. Leger Stakes winner Night Hawk. Blanche and her siblings were produced from the winner Black Cherry, whose sire Bendigo won both the 1886 Eclipse Stakes and the 1887 Champion Stakes, out of Black Duchess, also the dam of the important sire Bay Ronald (by Hampton).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 19, 2025
Race record
2 wins
1940:
- 3rd Middle Park Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket; dead heat with Starwort)
- 1941: Won a one-mile plate at Nottingham and a 10-furlong event at Worcester
As an individual
A bay horse, Selim Hassan was handsome and lengthy with excellent rein length and a fine shoulder but was a more impressive horse before the saddle than behind it.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Selim Hassan sired 47 winners (54.4%) and 21 stakes winners (7.0%) from 203 named foals. Records for his South American progeny are almost certainly incomplete.
Sire rankings
Per Gigantes genéticos (Ricardo Daniel Rodriguez Salto, www.haraslos4candados.blogspot.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1951 and 1953; 2nd in 1952; 8th in 1957; 10th in 1950.
- Led the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1961 and 1962; 3rd in 1964; 5th in 1965; 6th in 1960, 1963, and 1971
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1951 and 1953; 8th in 1957; 10th in 1950.
- Led the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1961 and 1962; 3rd in 1964
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1951 and 1953
Notable progeny
Chispeada (ARG), Cid (ARG), Yatasto (ARG), Yauca (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Arturo A. (ARG), Cachetera (ARG), Call Me Bold (ARG), Caro Giglia (ARG), Cocasse (ARG)
Connections
Selim Hassan was exported to Argentina following his racing career. In Argentina, he was owned by Ignacio Correas. He entered stud service in 1943 at. Haras Las Ortigas. His last Argentine foals appear to have been registered in 1964.
Pedigree notes
Selim Hassan is inbred 4x4 to 1896 Oaks Stakes winner Canterbury Pilgrim; 5x4x5 to unbeaten 1884 Ascot Gold Cup winner St. Simon, a nine-time champion sire in England/Ireland; 5x5 to St. Simon’s sire Galopin, winner of the 1875 Derby Stakes and a three-time English champion sire; and 5x5 to the important matron Black Duchess (a daughter of 1883 Two Thousand Guineas winner Galliard, by Galopin). He is a half brother to Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Mange Tout (by Coronach) and to 1931 Stud Produce Stakes winner Tarte Maison (by Tetratema), dam of the good German stakes winner Traumerei (by Mirza II).
Selim Hassan’s dam, Blanc Mange, is a winning half sister (by Swynford’s son Hainault) to three-time English/Irish champion sire Blandford (by Swynford). She is also a half sister to 1933 Cesarewitch Stakes winner Seminole (by Diligence) and to John Porter Stakes winner Silver Hussar (by Silvern). In addition, she is a half sister to Nun’s Veil (by Friar Marcus), second dam of 1942 English champion 3-year-old filly Sun Chariot and third dam of 1957 Oaks Stakes winner Carozza.
Blanche, the dam of Blanc Mange, failed to win but is a half sister to Cherry Lass (by Isinglass), winner of the 1905 One Thousand Guineas and Oaks Stakes; to 1906 St. James’s Palace Stakes winner Black Arrow (by Count Schomberg); and to Jean’s Folly (by Ayrshire), the best Irish juvenile filly of 1903 and the dam of 1913 St. Leger Stakes winner Night Hawk. Blanche and her siblings were produced from the winner Black Cherry, whose sire Bendigo won both the 1886 Eclipse Stakes and the 1887 Champion Stakes, out of Black Duchess, also the dam of the important sire Bay Ronald (by Hampton).
Fun facts
- In history, Selim Hassan was a noted Egyptologist of the first half of the 20th century who gained fame for his work on the excavations at Giza. He was the first native-born Egyptian to be appointed Professor of Egyptology at the University of Cairo and was the author of a number of important works in his field.
Last updated: September 19, 2025