Pilsudski failed to win in his early three-year-old career, finishing second in a maiden at Ripon and then running down the field in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot.

In July, Pilsudski won at his fifth attempt, staying on strongly to win a mile and a quarter handicap at Newmarket under a light weight.

A month later in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes over the same course and distance he recorded his first important win, beating Lucky Di by half a length.

[9] At Royal Ascot, Pilsudski was moved up to Group Two class for the Prince of Wales's Stakes for which was made 4/1 favourite and was reportedly well-fancied by his trainer.

In August he was sent abroad for the first time and won the Group Three Royal Whip Stakes at The Curragh, taking the lead two furlongs out and beating I'm Supposin by one and a half lengths.

In the straight the French colt pulled away to win easily, but Pilsudski stayed on strongly to hold on to second place ahead of numerous top class performers including Swain, Shaamit and Pentire.

The rest of the European challenge included Swain and the St Leger winner Shantou, while the North American runners were headed by the local champion Chief Bearheart and Diplomatic Jet from the United States.

[19] Although much of the coverage of the race focused on Bosra Sham's defeat, Pilsudski was given credit for his win and was described by Mick Kinane as "fit, hard and ready to fight.

"[2] In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot three weeks later Pilsudski ran on strongly after being switched to the outside to finish second to Swain, ahead of Helissio, Singspiel, Shantou and Predappio in a contest which was described as the "race of the decade".

Pilsudski accelerated to catch and pass the French colt Loup Sauvage inside the final furlong and pulled away to win by two lengths.

[24] The Sunday Mirror described his win as "a demolition job" and Kinane paid tribute to the winner, saying that "they don't come any tougher than this horse - not only is he the toughest I've ridden, he's one of the best.

In a "courageous, fibre-testing performance",[1] he held off a strong late challenge from the Tenno Sho winner Air Groove to win by a neck.