Cairn Rouge was a small, lightly built, dark-coated bay mare with a white star bred in Ireland by Janet Brady.

Cairn Rouge was then moved up in class for the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on 26 May in which she was matched against the leading English fillies Mrs Penny and Millingdale Lillie.

Cairn Rouge took the lead inside the final quarter mile and accelerated clear of the field to win decisively by 2+1⁄2 lengths from Millingdale Lillie.

[5] In June, the filly was sent to England for the Coronation Stakes (then a Group Two race) over one mile at Royal Ascot in which she faced the 1000 Guineas winner Quick As Lightning at level weights.

Ridden by Murray, Cairn Rouge started the 6/5[6] favourite and produced a strong late run on the inside to win by a neck from Quick As Lightning.

Cairn Rouge's final appearance of the season came in the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse in October when she started at odds of 6/1.

[9] Cairn Rouge began her three-year-old season at Royal Ascot in June, when she started favourite for the Prince of Wales's Stakes but finished fifth behind Hard Fought.

In October Cairn Rouge attempted to repeat her 1980 win in the Champion Stakes in a field which included To-Agori-Mou, Master Willie, Madam Gay and The Wonder.