In the following year he developed into a top class stayer, taking the Queen's Vase, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger.

His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle, Found, Minding and Ruler of the World.

[4] On 9 September Kew Gardens was stepped up in class for the Group 3 Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in which he was ridden by Seamie Heffernan, and finished second of the ten runners, beaten three lengths by his stablemate Nelson.

Two weeks later he contested the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Naas Racecourse in which he led for most of the way before fading in the closing stages and coming home fourth of the five runners behind Saxon Warrior.

For his final run of the season the colt was sent to England for the Listed Zetland Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 14 October, and started the 13/8 favourite.

[6] On his three-year-old debut, Kew Gardens returned to Newmarket for the Feilden Stakes on 17 April for which he started favourite but finished third behind Mildenberger and Fortune's Pearl.

On 12 May he was made odds-on favourite for Betfred Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park but was beaten 3+1⁄4 lengths into second place by Knight To Behold after failing to recover from a poor start.

[10] The colt bypassed the King George for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York Racecourse in August in which he carried a five-pound weight penalty for his Group 1 success and was beaten into third place behind Old Persian and Cross Counter.

The 242nd running of the St Leger over 14+1⁄2 furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse on 15 September attracted a field of twelve runners with Kew Gardens going of the 3/1 second choice in the betting behind the previously unbeaten filly Lah Ti Dar.

On his next race the colt contested the Coronation Cup at Epsom three weeks later in which he led inside the final furlong before being overtaken and beaten half a length by Defoe.

After racing towards the rear of the field he stayed on strongly in the straight but registered his third successive second place as he was beaten just over two lengths by the three-year-old filly Search For A Song.

After racing in third place behind Withhold and Capri, Kew Gardens took the lead in the straight and although he was headed by Stradivarius he rallied to regain the advantage in the final strides and won by a nose.