[3] Oratorio's sire Danehill (who died in 2003) was one of the most successful stallions of the last twenty years, producing the winners of more than a thousand races, including one hundred and fifty-six at Group One/Grade I level.

The colt was then moved up sharply in class for the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, where he made little impression, finishing seventh of the thirteen runners behind Iceman.

Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, he recorded his first important success as he took the lead two furlongs from the finish and won by a length from his better fancied stable companion Cougar Cat.

Spencer produced the 5/2 second favourite with a strong challenge in the straight, taking the lead in the closing stages and winning in a three-way photo-finish from the French colts Early March and Layman.

[11] Having won the most prestigious French event for two-year-old colts,[12] Oratorio was sent to Newmarket Racecourse two weeks later for Britain's most important juvenile race, the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs.

Oratorio made his three-year-old debut in the 197th running of the 2000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile course on 30 April, starting at odds of 8/1 in a field of nineteen runners.

Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the colt was unable to obtain a clear run inside the last quarter mile but made progress in the closing stages to finish fourth behind his stable companion Footstepsinthesand.

Three weeks later, he started 7/4 joint favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh and finished second to his betting rival Dubawi, six lengths clear of the rest of the field.

On 4 June, Oratorio was moved up in distance when he was one of four O'Brien-trained colts to contest the 226th running of the Derby Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

Oratorio raced over ten furlongs for the first time in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse on 2 July, when he was tested against older horses.

He repeated his performance from the Eclipse by overtaking the English-trained colt in the closing stages to win by half a length, with Alexander Goldrun in third and the favourite Azamour in fifth.

[17][18] In the Champion Stakes at Newmarket in October, Oratorio was made favourite for the first time over a year when he started at odds of 9/4 in a field which included Alexander Goldrun, Alkaased, Rakti, Pride, Maraahel, Chic and David Junior.