[3] Master Willie began his three-year-old season by winning the Easter Stakes at Kempton Park Racecourse[4] before finishing fourth in his next race.
At York in May, Master Willie finished second to the Henry Cecil-trained Hello Gorgeous in the Dante Stakes, a major trial race for the Epsom Derby.
[5] Master Willie started favourite for the Irish Derby at the end of June but was unsuited by the very soft ("gluepot")[6] ground and finished fifth behind Tyrnavos.
At York in August Master Willie was matched against fillies and older horses in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup and started at odds of 13/2.
[7] He appeared to be under pressure two furlongs from home but finished strongly to take the lead in the last strides to win by half a length from the Irish filly Cairn Rouge.
[7] On a course covered with litter left behind after the previous day's Derby,[3] he led from the start and won easily from Prince Bee with the filly Vielle in third place.
At the end of his racing career, Master Willie was sold to the Windfields Farm and exported to stand as a breeding stallion in the United States.