He later became a very successful breeding stallion in the United States, siring major winners including Footstepsinthesand, Ghanaati, Shamardal and Rite of Passage.
[6] On his racecourse debut Intense Focus contested a six furlong maiden race on soft ground at the Curragh on 5 May and finished fourth of the fifteen runners behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mastercraftsman.
He stayed on strongly in the closing stages and won by a neck from Super Pistachio, a colt who went on to win the Champagne Stakes.
Twelve days later, in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh, Intense Focus finished third in a three-way photo-finish, beaten a short-head and a neck by Mastercraftsman and Alhaban after briefly taking the lead in the last quarter mile.
After a break of two months, Intense Focus returned in the National Stakes on heavy ground at the Curragh on 14 September.
With Manning taking the ride on the Bolger stable's most-fancied contender Gan Amhras, Intense Focus was ridden by Danny Morgan and started at odds of 20/1.
[8] On 18 October, Intense Focus made his second appearance in England, when he contested Britain's most prestigious race for two-year-olds, the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse.
After tracking the leaders, Intense Focus took the lead a furlong out and was drive out by Manning as he faced several late challengers.
He started the eve money favourite in a five-runner field but after taking the lead in the last quarter mile he was overtaken and beaten a lengths by Recharge, to whom he was conceding three pounds in weight.
Plans to run the colt in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains were abandoned after rain softened the ground in France.