As a three-year-old he was overshadowed by his stable companion Dancing Brave, but he showed good form to win the Geoffrey Freer Stakes and finish third in both the Prix du Jockey Club and the Irish Derby.
[6] As a (horse), Bakharoff was consigned to the Keeneland Select sale by Lea Eaton where he was bought for $450,000 by the bloodstock agent James Delahooke, acting on behalf of the Saudi prince Khalid Abdulla.
Eight days after his defeat at Newmarket, Bakharoff moved up in distance to contest the Group One William Hill Futurity over one mile at Doncaster Racecourse.
He started the 2/1 favourite against eight opponents headed by Water Cay and Bold Arrangement, runners-up in the Royal Lodge Stakes and the Grand Critérium respectively.
[2] Throughout the winter of 1985/6, Bakharoff was regarded a leading contender for the 1986 Epsom Derby although there were widespread rumours that he was inferior to his lightly raced stable companion Dancing Brave.
He began his three-year-old season in the Highland Spring Derby Trial at Lingfield Park Racecourse on 10 May, when he started the 11/10 favourite but was beaten half a length by Mashkour.
[10] On his next appearance, Bakharoff was moved up in distance and matched against older horses for the first time in the Group Two Geoffrey Freer Stakes over thirteen furlongs at Newbury Racecourse.
Following his win at Newbury, Bakharoff was strongly fancied for the St Leger Stakes but the Harwood stable preferred to rely on Allez Milord (who finished last behind Moon Madness).
In the International Classification, he was ranked the fifth-best colt in Europe over twelve furlongs behind Dancing Brave, Shahrastani, Bonhomie and Allez Milord.