Pedro the Great

Rather than making his debut in a maiden race, Pedro the Great began his track career in the Listed Rochestown Stakes over six furlongs at Naas Racecourse on 4 June. Ridden by his trainer's son Joseph, he started at odds of 8/1 and finished fifth of the six runners behind Dawn Approach. On 21 June he was dropped back in class and started favourite for a maiden at Leopardstown in which he was partnered by Seamie Heffernan. He led from the start and drew away from his five opponents in the final furlong to win by four and a quarter lengths from the Jim Bolger-trained Wexford Opera.[6] Nine days after his win at Leopardstown the colt was moved up to Group 3 class for the Railway Stakes at the Curragh and started second favourite behind his stablemate Cristoforo Colombo. After racing in second place for most of the way he faded in the closing stages and finished fifth behind the David Wachman-trained Probably.

The Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown on 12 August attracted a field of six runners and Pedro the Great, with Heffernan in the saddle, started the 10/1 fourth choice in the betting. Probably started favourite ahead of Cristoforo Colombo and the British challenger Bungle Inthejungle (Molecomb Stakes) while the other two runners were Leitir Mor and the filly Lottie Dod. The horses raced up the stands side (the left hand side from the jockeys' viewpoint) with Pedro the Great settling in fifth before switching to the right and taking the lead in the last quarter mile. The complexion of the race changed abruptly a furlong out when Cristoforo Colombo, who was going well and still in contention, slipped and fell a furlong out. In the closing stages Pedro the Great drew away from his remaining rivals and won "comfortably" by two and three quarter lengths from Leitir Mor.[7] Aidan O'Brien commented "He won his maiden very impressively. He was a bit fresh the last day and we decided to take our time with him today and he settled well. He won’t mind stepping up to seven furlongs".[8]

In October Pedro the Great was sent to France to contest the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère over 1400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse and started 9/2 third favourite. After being restrained by Joseph O'Brien in the early stages he made some progress approaching the last 400 metres but never looked likely to threaten the leaders and finished fifth to Olympic Glory.