May 24, 2019 | News
Dee Ex Bee doubles up in penultimate WH Stayers' Million qualifier
Dee Ex Bee put in a tough front-running performance to land the Group 3 Matchbook VIP Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park yesterday evening, the penultimate qualifier for the 2019 Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million.
Sent off the odds-on favourite, having won a WH Stayers' Million qualifier on his last start - the Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot - Mark Johnston's charge, in the hands of Silvester De Sousa, took up the running from the off and was never headed. He stepped up a great inside the final three furlongs, saw off any challenge at the furlong marker, and galloped relentlessly to the line to score by one and three-quarter lengths from Mekong and Austrian School.
After the race Mark Johnston said: "Given his pedigree and form as a three-year-old we always expected him to step up." Confident he will get the extra half mile required for the Ascot Gold Cup, that race is most definitely the target for the son of Farhh.
Attention now turns to ParisLongchamp on Sunday for the final WH Stayers' Million qualifier, the Group 2 Vicomtesse Vigier.