Violet is related to Hyperion, arguably the best stud of the 20th century, but definitely the best one in England, Ireland and France. Hyperion's record was 13: 9, 1, 2, and he was fantastic in his wins, but even more fantastic as a stud. He was among the top 10 leading sires 16 times, and only St. Simon has beat this record. He was the leading broodmare sire 4 times.His dam, Selene, was considered the finest racing filly of her time with a record of 22: 16-4-1, and she became a spectacular Blue Hen who had 14 foals. She was a first-class broodmare. His next two dams on his mom's side were Serenissima and Gondolette, also exquisite Blue Hens. His sire was Gainsborough, an English Triple Crown winner and Gold Cup winner, as well as the sire who produced Mah Mahal, the Blue Hen who produced Mahmoud. His grandsire was Bayardo, an even greater racer who produced two English Triple Crown winners, no other stud having done that -- Gainsborough and Gay Crusader.
Hyperion came into being because his breeders were trying to inbreed on the female line, a revolutionary policy at the time. They felt that the Blue Hens in his family tree were very important and should be doubled and tripled, if possible. So, in his immediate family tree, several times, he has the following Blue Hens: Pilgrimage and Canterbury Pilgrim. No wonder he had a sweet temper and liked to save it up for his races! He was a king bred from royal girls!!
Anyway, he passed away at Lord Derby's Woodland Stud in Newmarket. And he had an enormous influence on the sports of racing, dressage, eventing, and jumping. Even Karen O'Connor benefitted from a win on a Rolex horse with his breeding, Worth the Trust! In Violet's family, he produced Pensive, the winner of the 1944 Kentucky Derby!
You can read more about this great racer and stud at the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_(horse)
or
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Selene.html#Hyperion
or
http://www.holsteiner.com/impulsion/bayron2.html
or
http://www.reines-de-course.com/hyperion.htm