His three-year-old season was dominated by a rivalry with the British-trained colt To-Agori-Mou: Kings Lake won two of their four meetings, including the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Sussex Stakes.
Kings Lake was a "neat, very attractive"[2] bay horse with a small white star[3] bred in Kentucky by the Irish-based Lyonstown Stud.
Fish Bar was a granddaughter of the 1000 Guineas and St Leger Stakes winner Herringbone, whose other descendants included Moon Madness, Celtic Swing and Michelozzo.
After finishing second on his debut, Kings Lake contested a fourteen-runner maiden race over six furlongs at the Curragh and won by four lengths from Noble Monk.
Eddery tracked the leaders before sending Kings Lake into the lead two furlongs from the finish and was almost immediately challenged on the outside by Greville Starkey on To-Agori-Mou.
The local racecourse stewards immediately called an inquiry, ruled that Kings Lake had interfered with his opponent and awarded the race to To-Agori-Mou.
[8] While most of the press were of the opinion that the final decision was unjust, some independent observers, including Timeform, supported the Turf Club, pointing out that Starkey was at least as culpable as Eddery for the bumping which occurred and that King Lake had appeared to win on merit.
[2] On 19 September, Kings Lake was moved up in distance for the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse, which at that time was the only Group One race open to older horses in Ireland.
He started the 9/4 second favourite behind The Oaks winner Blue Wind, with the other runners including Arctique Royale (Irish 1,000 Guineas), Erin's Isle and Kind of Hush.