The best of Zilzal's other progeny included Faithful Son (Prince of Wales's Stakes, Always Loyal (Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Shaanxi (Prix d'Astarte.
Among Men was sent to the Keeneland sale in September where he was acquired for $55,000 by the bloodstock agent Dermot "Demi" O'Byrne[4] on behalf of John Magnier's Coolmore Stud organisation.
Ridden by Ray Cochrane he struggled to obtain a clear run in the last quarter mile but finished strongly to take the lead in the final strides and won by a short head from Amid Albadu.
His principal opponents, according to the betting were the Godolphin colt Kahal, the improving handicapper Tayseer, the Henry Cecil-trained Shaheen and the fillies Meshhed and Nightbird.
[8] On his next race, the colt was moved up to Group One class and matched against older horses for the first time in the Sussex Stakes over one mile at Goodwood Racecourse on 30 July.
He took the lead approaching the final furlong and finished ahead of Almushtarak and Cape Cross but proved no match for the favourite Intikhab who beat him into second place by eight lengths.
[10] In July, Among Men made a second attempt to win the Sussex Stakes and after heavy support in the betting market started 4/1 second favourite behind the three-year-old Lend A Hand, the winner of the Gran Criterium and runner-up in the 2000 Guineas.
[2] In the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Racecourse in August Among Men proved the best of the European runners but was beaten half a length into second place by the Japanese challenger Taiki Shuttle.
On 26 September Among Men, ridden by John Reid, started second favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot but after challenging for the lead in the straight he faded to finish fifth of the seven runners behind Desert Prince.