Peri was bred to Whalebone at the age of three and Sir Hercules, her first foal, was born in 1826 at Petworth Stud.

Black with white ticking, Sir Hercules was 15 hands 2 inches high, and had a compact build, with identical length "...From the centre of the breast to the hind part of the shoulder, from hind part of shoulder to the hip, and from hip to whirl-bone," with "no more than room for a saddle on his back."

In September at Doncaster he finished third to Rowton and Voltaire in the St Leger and won a sweepstakes over one mile three days later.

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.