[3] Pretty Please was a half-sister to the Prix Ganay winner Planteur, and as a descendant of the broodmare Petroleuse (foaled 1978), was closely related to Pawneese and Peintre Celebre.

On 1 September at Chantilly Racecourse Persian King started 2/5 favourite for a similar event over 1600 metres on good to soft ground and recorded his first success as he came home six lengths clear of his five opponents.

[5] Two weeks later the colt started 3/5 favourite for a more competitive race over the same course and distance and won again, taking the lead 300 metres out and accelerating away from his rivals to win "easily" by five lengths from Lone Peak.

After tracking the leaders Persian King took the lead a furlong out and got the better of a "sustained duel" with Magna Grecia to win by a neck with three lengths back to Circus Maximus in third.

[9] Four weeks later, over the same course and distance on heavy ground, the colt was stepped up to the highest class and started the 1/2 favourite for the Group 1 Poule de'Essai des Poulains.

Persian King raced in fifth place as the outsider Senza Limiti set the pace before moving up on the inside to take the lead 300 metres from the finish.

"[11] As Fabre had predicted, Persian King reappeared in the Prix du Jockey Club over 2000 metres at Chantilly on 2 June and went off the 1.8/1 favourite in a fifteen-runner field.

[14] The flat racing season in Europe was restructured as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Persian King made his first appearance in the Listed Prix de Montretout which was run over 1600 metres behind closed doors at Chantilly on 10 June.

After settling in second place behind the outsider Pogo, Persian King went to the front 500 metres from the finish, broke clear of his opponents and "kept on well" to win by two lengths from Stormy Antarctic.

"[17] In the Prix Jacques le Marois over 1600 metres on heavy ground at Deauville in August Persian King started 2/1 second favourite in a seven-runner field but never looked likely to win and came home fourth behind Palace Pier, Alpine Star and Circus Maximus beaten almost nine lengths by the winner.

[18] On better ground at Longchamp on 6 September Persian King started 3.6/1 second favourite behind Pinatubo for the Prix du Moulin in a six-runner field which also included Siskin, Circus Maximus, Romanised and Victor Ludorum.

The colt went into the lead from the start and set a steady pace, maintaining his advantage into the straight before being overtaken 200 metres from the finish and coming home third behind Sotsass and In Swoop.