In the following spring he won the Prix de Fontainebleau and Poule d'Essai des Poulains before sustaining his first defeat in the St James's Palace Stakes.
[3] Ashkalani's dam Ashtarka won one minor race in France and was a half-sister to the Prix du Cadran winner Shafaraz.
[5] On 21 April 1996 Ashkalani made his first appearance as a three-year-old in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse and started the 2.7/1 second favourite behind the Grand Critérium winner Loup Solitaire.
[8] At Royal Ascot on 18 June Ashkalani was ridden by Mick Kinane (Mosse was serving a suspension)[9] when he started 13/8 favourite for the St James's Palace Stakes ahead of eight opponents including Spinning World, Mark of Esteem, Bijou d'Inde, Beauchamp King and Cayman Kai.
Ashkalani raced in fourth place before taking the lead 200 metres from the finish and won "comfortably" by one and a half lengths and a short head from Spinning World and Shake The Yoke.
[11] Three weeks later Ashkalani started the 9/4 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot but failed to reproduce his best form and came home fifth behind Mark of Esteem, Bosra Sham, First Island and Charnwood Forest.