On 17 November on the synthetic Tapeta track at Wolverhampton Racecourse the colt started 13/8 favourite for a novice race (for horses for no more than two previous wins) over nine and a half furlongs.

Ridden as on his debut by Tom Marquand he tracked the leaders before taking the lead in the final furlong but was caught on the line and beaten a short head by the Roger Varian-trained Mackaar.

After a break of over four months King of Change returned to the track in the Listed Fortune Stakes over one mile at Sandown Park on 16 September in which he was matched against older horses for the first time.

[8] On 19 October King of Change faced fifteen opponents in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on heavy ground over the straight mile course at Ascot Racecourse.

Benbatl started favourite while the other contenders included Magna Grecia, The Revenant (Prix Daniel Wildenstein), Lord Glitters, Accidental Agent, Phoenix of Spain and Veracious.