[6] As a two-year-old Mesa won a minor race and then took the valuable Poule des Foals over 1400 metres at Deauville Racecourse.
In autumn he was matched against male opposition in France' most prestigious juvenile race, the Grand Critérium over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse and finished third behind Pampeiro and Corrida.
The Queen Mary Stakes winner Caretta started favourite while the other fancied runners included Corrida, Lair, Annabel and Ankaret.
[9] Mesa was moved up in distance to contest the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Racecourse and started the 5/4 favourite.
Johnstone was widely adjudged to have ridden a poor race, having elected to make his challenge on the inside through the thick of the field.