He was then moved up in class and distance for the Gallinule Stakes over one and a half miles at the Curragh in May in which he was ridden by Lester Piggott and won by three lengths from Dermot Weld-trained Good Thyne.
Piggott was again in the saddle on 8 June when Gonzales was sent to France and started 9/4 favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club over 2400 metres at Chantilly Racecourse.
Later that month he was stepped back up to Group 1 class for the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown and finished fifth behind his four-year-old stablemate Gregorian, looking to be outpaced in the closing stages.
Racing on soft ground he was made the 4/7 favourite ahead of Ramian (third in the Irish Derby) and Good Thyne whilst the other five runners were Capitano, Sheringham, Prancing Prince, El Cito and Sir Mordred.
In that summer he ran three times at Hollywood Park Racetrack, running third in two allowance races and then finishing unplaced behind Galaxy Libra in the Sunset Handicap.