where he was available to public mares. Soon, however, Herbert broke up his stud and sold Sir Hercules to Mr. Phillips of Bushbury Stud, where the stallion eventually died at the age of thirty. Sir Hercules was influential in siring both flat and steeplechase race horses, including one winner of the Grand National. Both his sons and daughters had a profound impact on the bloodlines of horses in Australia, England, Ireland, the United States, and France. Notable progeny include: Birdcatcher, his most famous son Coronation: won The Derby Stakes and Ascot Derby Faugh-a-Ballagh, won St. Leger Stakes, Grand Duke Michael Stakes, and Cesarewitch Stakes Gaslight (1850) exported to Australia and produced four stakes-winners for 16 stakes-wins. Gemma di Vergy (1854) won the Fernhill Stakes, the Reading Stakes, the Avon Stakes, the Nursery Handicap, the Whittlebury Stakes and the Racing Stakes, sire of Gemma-di-Vergy (1863) who was exported in utero to Australia where he was a sire. Hyllus, won Goodwood Cup* Paraguay, exported to Australia, dam of Sir Hercules (1843 by Cap-a-Pie, a good sire) and Whalebone (1844, another good sire) Lady Lift (1844), dam of Consul (won FR Two Thousand Guineas and FR Prix du Jockey Club) and Le Marechal (won GB Gimcrack Stakes) The Corsair, won Two Thousand Guineas Venus (1840), dam of Aphrodite (won GB One Thousand Guineas) Arkle (1957), three-times winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. References External links Thoroughbred Heritage – Sir Hercules https://web.archive.org/web/20120928205541/http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/bushbury/families/phillips.htm 1826 racehorse births 1855 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in Ireland Thoroughbred family 2-t