The colt recorded his first success in a division of the Westley Stakes, a maiden race over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse in October, winning by half a length from Noble Gift in a twenty-two runner field.
[3] In late October Count Pahlen, ridden by Geoff Baxter, started a 25/1 outsider[4] in a thirteen-runner field for the Group One William Hill Futurity over one mile at Doncaster Racecourse.
After tracking the leaders, Count Pahlen went to the front three furlongs out, got the better of a sustained struggle and held off the late challenges of Paradis Terrestre and Jalmood to win by half a length and a head.
[5] On his first appearance as a three-year-old Count Pahlen contested the Group Three Blue Riband Trial Stakes over 8+1⁄2 furlongs at Epsom Downs Racecourse in May and recorded his third consecutive victory, beating Steel Bay (to whom he was conceding ten pounds) by a neck.
In May he ran in the Dante Stakes (a major trial race for The Derby) over 10+1⁄2 furlongs at York Racecourse and finished fourth behind Simply Great, Palace Gold and Be My Native.
Count Pahlen was unplaced in his two remaining races in Europe, ending his season by finishing seventh behind Time Charter in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket in October.
In their annual Racehorses of 1981 Timeform described Count Pahlen as "a strong, good sort of colt who carries plenty of condition" and likely to become a serious contender for the Epsom Derby.