WHEN the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million was instigated last year, common consensus was that it would be difficult for any horse to win it.

There would be winners of the qualifying races of course, but then, for one horse to win at least one of the qualifying races, and then go on and win the Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup, in the same season: it would be some horse who would be able to do that.

We know now that Stradivarius was that horse, not once, not just in the inaugural year last year, but twice. Victory in the Lonsdale Cup at York last week brought up his second million, and both of them were cool, like all millions really.

At least as remarkable, however, is the fact that, if Stradivarius had not been around this year, Dee Ex Bee probably would have won the bonus. Mark Johnston’s horse won two of the qualifying races, the Sagaro Stakes and the Henry II Stakes, and he finished second to Stradivarius all three Stayers’ Million races.

Beaten a length in the Gold Cup, beaten a neck in the Goodwood Cup, beaten a length and a quarter in the Lonsdale Cup.

You can argue that, had Stradivarius been absent, then the races may have been run differently, or the competition may have been more intense, but the fact remains that, like Ardross with Le Moss in 1980, Dee Ex Bee has been unlucky this season to continually come up against the colossus Stradivarius. Ardross was a year younger than Le Moss, and he ultimately got his time to shine after Le Moss was retired to stud. Perhaps Dee Ex Bee will still get his time to shine too.