Hyperion (18 April 1930 – 9 December 1960) was a British bred Thoroughbred, a dual classic winner and an outstanding sire. Owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, Hyperion won £29,509 during his career - a considerable sum at the time. His victories included the Epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes. He was the most successful British-bred sire of the 20th century and six times champion sire of Great Britain between 1940 and 1954.
Hyperion was by the wartime Triple Crown winner and good sire Gainsborough and his grandsire was Bayardo. His dam, Selene, was by Chaucer, a talented son of the undefeated St. Simon. Selene was also dam of such good sires as Sickle (sire-line ancestor of Native Dancer and Sea Bird II) Pharamond (US), and Hunter's Moon (Argentina). He was inbred in the third and fourth generation to St. Simon. Hyperion was trained at Newmarket to win his classics by George Lambton.
He was one of the smallest horses to ever win a British Classic but had a good action and beautiful temperament. He stood just 15 hands 1½ inches, with a girth of 68 inches, and measured 7¾ inches below the knee.