UNBEATEN as a two-year-old, Saturnalia signed off on his juvenile campaign with an easy victory in the Group 1
Hopeful Stakes. He was then a narrow winner of the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) on his first start as a three-year-old.

The heightening air of invincibility was duly quashed when a lack lustre performance as short-priced favourite for the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) resulted in a well-beaten fourth place. That disappointment forced connections to cancel their intended plan of running the Katsuhiko Sumii-trained colt in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.