Helissio (1993–2013) was a

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...

sired by Fairy King and a grandson of

Northern Dancer Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred who, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He then became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. He is considered a Canad ...

. Owned by the Spanish businessman

Enrique Sarasola Enrique Sarasola Lerchundi (24 August 1937 – 2 November 2002) was a Spanish industrialist, a major figure in his country's transition to democracy, and an owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses. A native of San Sebastian, Spain, at ag ...

, he was voted the

European Horse of the Year The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier SA, Cartier. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races (40%) plus the votes cast by British racing journalists (30%) and rea ...

for 1996 His career highlight was winning the 1996 running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps by five lengths and earned a Timeform rating of 136. He failed to reproduce that form the following year finishing 7¾ lengths behind the winner Peintre Celebre. Retired after his four-year-old campaign, Helissio stood at

stud Stud may refer to the following terms: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay bar ...

at the Widden Stud in Australia and

Shadai Stallion Station is a thoroughbred breeding facility located in Abira on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. The farm was begun in the late 1970s to early 1980s by the late Zenya Yoshida, and is now run jointly by his sons (Katsumi, Haruya, and Teruya Yoshida), know ...

in Japan. He later stood at

The National Stud The National Stud is a United Kingdom Thoroughbred horse breeding farm located two miles from Newmarket. The Stud originated in 1916 as a result of a gift by William Hall Walker (later Lord Wavertree) of the entire bloodstock of his stud farm ...

in Newmarket, England, Larkinglass Farm and Park House Stud. He sired Helenus, a top class Australian three-year-old stayer; the brilliant Japanese horse

Pop Rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...

; and Weekend Beauty, the dam of six-time Group One winner Weekend Hussler. Helissio died of a heart attack at Scarvagh House Stud in Ireland on 8 October 2013. Detailed information, including pedigree analysis and progeny performance, can be found at th
Scarvagh Stud/Sandley Stud website

References

Helissio at The National Stud
{{Cartier Champion Three-year-old Colt 1993 racehorse births 2013 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Orne Racehorses trained in France Arc winners Cartier Award winners European Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Thoroughbred family 10-c