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Winning the Epsom Derby is one of sport’s greatest or most testing challenges with its unwinding turns,gradients and grueling straight.It requires a perfect blending of natural talent and speeds with temperament and staying ability.However after passing the post a Derby winner is syndicated for a handsome amount to a stud farm with the goal of possibly breeding another Derby winner.The likes of Gainsborough, Nijinsky , Mill Reef ,Hyperion and Shirley Heights have done so.Nijinsky sired Golden Fleece,Sharastani and Lammtarra.Mill Reef sired Shirley heights and Reference Point ,while Shirley heights sire Slip Anchor.
To me the progeny of Derby winners that made the cut amongst the all-time greats were Golden Fleece,Hyperion,Reference Point and Lammtarra.
On the basis of pure performance on Derby day I would rank Golden Fleece at the top just a whisker ahead of Lammtarra and Hyperion and Reference Point in that order.Hyperion won by the biggest margin of four lengths but the electrifying finishing bursts displayed by Lammtarra and Golden Fleece were almost unprecdented in the history of the Epsom Derby,reminiscent of a dynamite exploding from no man’s land.Impact of a 360 degree turn in a climax of an epic novel literally took place.References Point was an all the way winner and almost up there .
Overall in terms of sheer class my order would be Golden Fleece,Hyperion,Lammtarra and then Reference Point.True Hyperion had a better record wining the Prince of Wales Stakes and the St Leger but did not surpass the brilliant turn of foot of Golden Fleece in all his races won.To my naked eye in pure abilty Golden Fleece may even have eclipsed Nijinsky.Hyperion won his races in spectacular style conquering stalwarts like King Salmon,Thouber and Heriot.
Not quite what you have asked, but I was looking at Tesio’s book recently, to see exactly what he had said about the longevity of sire lines, and what he specifically said is that no sire line has won the Derby beyond three generations (uninterrupted). I think that still stands. The closest to it in recent times is Darley with Galileo-New Approach-Masar, and then there was Mill Reef-Shirley Heights-Slip Anchor, who you mention. It just shows how difficult it is to find that blend of qualities in a horse, who can then pass it on. I have a particular soft spot for anything by Nijinsky or Mill Reef, and particularly Lammtarra and Reference Point.
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