After finishing unplaced on his only start as a juvenile and running fifth on his three-year-old debut, he made very good progress and ended the year as the biggest money-winner in Britain.

[5] On his only start as a two-year-old Ossian finished unplaced in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse, a race which resulted in a dead-heat between Elzevir and St.

[6] Two days later, over the Ancaster Mile at the same track, the colt produced a much better effort in the Craven Stakes when he ran second to Grandmaster, beaten three quarters of a length by the winner.

He started at odds of 9/1 for the Prince of Wales Stakes (then restricted to three-year-olds and run over thirteen furlongs) and after taking the lead on the final turn he finished second, a length behind the 2000 Guineas winner Galliard.

[11] On the following afternoon John Watts took the ride when the colt started favourite for the ten-furlong Drawing Room Stakes and won "in a canter" by four length from Henley.

[11] Later in the meeting, however, he was beaten a head by Blue Grass in the Racing Stakes, after which bookmakers offered him at odds of 40/1 for the St Leger whilst Bell's Life described him as one of the "ragged rank and file".

He took the lead on the final turn and held off the challenge of Chislehurst to win by a by a neck in a "splendid finish" with Ladislas two lengths back in third place.

[13] On 12 September Ossian, ridden by Watts, was one of nine three-year-olds to contest the 108th running of the £4,725 St Leger over 14+1⁄2 furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse and started at odds of 9/1.

Cecil Craven dropped back with five furlongs left to run and Ossian entered the straight with a clear advantage over Chislehurst and Highland Chief with the rest of the runners struggling to stay in contention.

[14] Less than two weeks after his Leger win, Ossian started at 7/1 for the Great Foal Stakes over ten furlongs "across the flat" at Newmarket, carrying a seven-pound penalty which took his weight up to 131 pounds.