Bikala proved too good for Storm Bird, overtaking the Irish-trained colt early in the straight, but in a closely contested finish he was beaten half a length by Vayrann, to whom he was conceding two pounds.
Akarad started favourite, while the other runners included Detroit (winner of the race in 1980), Ardross, Blue Wind (Oaks Stakes), Cut Above, Lancastrian, Argument, April Run, Perrault, Beldale Flutter, King's Lake and Ring the Bell.
He led from the start and won by half a length from Lancastrian, with Al Nasr, Vayrann, Kalaglow and April Run among the beaten horses.
In July he was sent overseas for the first time when he contested the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over one and a half miles on firm ground at Ascot Racecourse.
Bikala again attempted to make all the running but was overtaken by Assert on the turn into the straight and faded in the closing stages to finish fifth behind Kalaglow.
[7] As in 1981, Bikala prepared for the Arc de Triomphe by running in the Prix du Prince d'Orange and again finished second, this time being beaten by the three-year-old General Holme.
In the Arc he disputed the lead with the Prix Niel winner Bon Sang until early in the straight, but then dropped away quickly and finished twelfth of the seventeen runners behind Akiyda.
[7] In the official International Classification for 1981, Bikala was the second-highest rated three-year-old colt in Europe behind the British-trained Shergar and the third highest-rated horse of any age.
The best of his offspring was Apple Tree a highly successful international middle-distance performer whose wins included the Europa-Preis, Turf Classic, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Coronation Cup.