[2] The filly began her second campaign in the Athasi Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh in April and sustained her first defeat as she finished fourth behind Martinova, Overplay and Castlemaine.
Martinova started favourite ahead of Blue Wind with Arctique Royale the 7/1 joint third choice in the betting alongside the British-trained Star Pastures.
In the last quarter mile the race devolved into a prolonged struggle between Arctique Royale and Blue Wind, with the Prendergast filly prevailing by a short head after a "fierce duel".
At the Curragh in late June she was stepped up in distance for the Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs but was beaten three lengths into second place by Happy Bride, a filly who had finished fifth in the Guineas.
In the Irish Oaks on 18 July she started the 7/2 second favourite but never looked likely to win and finished sixth of the ten runners behind Blue Wind.
[4] In the 1981 Irish Free Handicap Arctiue Royale was rated the fourth-best three-year-old filly in Ireland behind Blue Wind, Condessa and Happy Bride.