[4] Silvio began the season being regarded as the second string of Lord Falmouth's horses behind the filly, Lady Golightly,[5] and was offered at odds of 33/1 for the Derby in late March.

Ridden by the Champion Jockey Fred Archer he finished third, beaten just over a length behind the French-bred favourite Chamant and the American Brown Prince.

Silvio moved into second place two furlongs from the finish and passed Glen Arthur to take the lead a hundred yards from the line.

He won "cleverly" by half a length from Glen Arthur, with Rob Roy, who may have been unlucky in running,[8] three quarters of a length further back in third [9] In mid-June, Silvio beat Glen Arthur much more decisively[10] in the Ascot Derby, the race now called the King Edward VII Stakes, despite carrying a weight penalty for his Derby win.

[15] In the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June he was never able to get on level terms with Verneuil and finished second, beaten six lengths, ahead of the Grand Prix de Paris winner St Christophe and Hampton.

He led from the start but was caught by the filly, to whom he was attempting to concede fifteen pounds, inside the final furlong and was beaten by a neck.

[18] On his last start of the season he recorded his most important win in over a year when he won the Jockey Club Cup very easily from Insulaire.

In June he ran twice at Royal Ascot firstly in the Gold Vase on the opening day for which he started odds-on favourite but was beaten half a length by Isonomy, who was receiving seven pounds.