Flamenco Wave was one of many good horses descended from the American broodmare Fleet Flight: others have included Almutawakel and White Muzzle.
Ridden by Mick Kinane he took the lead approaching the final furlong and stayed on in the closing stages to win by four and a half lengths from the Dermot Weld-trained Huangdi.
Starting at odds of 10/1 after strong late support in the betting Aristotle tracked the leaders as Lermontov made the running but looked outpaced when Ekraar went to the front three furlongs out.
He stayed on strongly however, gained the advantage inside the final furlong, and won by one and a quarter lengths and a neck from Lermontov and Ekraar.
[9] On his three-year-old debut, Aristotle was sent to France for the Group Two Prix Greffulhe over 2100 metres on heavy ground at Longchamp Racecourse on 23 April.
However, he had veered left repeatedly in the straight, hampering the third-placed finisher Boutron, and after an inquiry by the racecourse stewards he was disqualified and demoted to third.
[11][12] On 10 June, Aristotle was one of fifteen colts to contest the 2000 Epsom Derby at and started the 5/1 third choice in the betting behind Beat Hollow and Sakhee.
[13] In the event, Aristotle turned into the straight in fifth place but soon began to struggle and was eased down by Kinane in the closing stages to finish tenth behind Sinndar.
He was then sent to the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai World Cup on dirt at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on 24 March and finished tenth of eleven behind Captain Steve.