Following a narrow defeat on his debut he won twice in Ireland before traveling to England and winning the Group One Middle Park Stakes in record time.
He was from the third crop of foals sired by the American sprinter Raja Baba whose other offspring included Summer Mood, Sacahuista and Is It True.
At the Curragh in September he was opposed by eleven horses in a six furlong maiden race and accelerated clear of his rivals to win by four lengths from Rare Duke.
[4] For his final appearance of the season Junius was sent to England and moved up to Group One level for the Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 5 October.
Ridden by Lester Piggott, Junius disputed second place as Main Reef set the early pace, before going to the front at half way.
[2] In the official International Classification of European two-year-olds for 1978 was given a rating of 85, placing him joint sixth behind Tromos, Irish River, Sigy, Ela-Mana-Mou and Sandy Creek.