[4] In July 1981 L'Emigrant was sent to the Keeneland Sales where he was bought for $325,000 by Philip Payne-Gallwey[5] of the British Bloodstock Agency (England),[6] acting on behalf of Stavros Niarchos.

On 10 October L'Emigrant was ridden by Cash Asmussen in France's premier race for two-year-olds, the Grand Critérium over 1600m on soft ground at Longchamp.

In late October, L'Emigrant ran in the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte over 1400m in which he was opposed by Crystal Glitters, the Prix Thomas Bryon winner Bal des Fees and three challengers from England.

[2] L'Emigrant began his three-year-old season in early April, when he recorded an easy three length win over Ginger Brink in the Prix Djebel over 1400m at Maisons-Laffitte.

Starting the 7/10 favourite on extremely heavy ground he won the race, but was not particularly impressive: he took the lead in the straight but appeared to be tiring in the closing stages and had to be ridden out by Asmusen to win narrowly from Lovely Dancer and Pluralisme.

Asmussen restrained the colt in the early stages before producing him with a late run in the straight, but he was never able to get close enough to mount a serious challenge to Caerleon and was beaten three lengths.

There was some criticism of Asmussen after the race from commentators who felt that he had given the horse too much ground to make up, while other pointed to L'Emigrant's demanding spring campaign as the reason for his failure.

Starting favourite at odds of 11/4 he got the better of a sustained struggle with the British challenger Noalcoholic but was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten one and a half lengths by the improving filly Luth Enchantee.

The pair finished eight lengths clear of the rest of the field, which included Wassl (Irish 2000 Guineas), L'Attrayante (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches), Horage and Crystal Glitters.