Recitation's dam Irish Party won nine races and became a successful broodmare: her other descendants include the Breeders' Cup Classic winner Volponi.
The colt was then moved up sharply in class for the Group Three Coventry Stakes over six furlongs at Royal Ascot in June in which he was ridden by Greville Starkey and started at odds of 11/1.
[6] In a performance which Timeform described as "a revelation", Recitation took the lead a quarter mile from the finish and drew clear of the field to win easily by five lengths from Motavato, Bel Bolide and Another Realm.
In the July Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse Recitation started 2/5 favourite against two opponents, but was beaten two and a half lengths by Age Quod Agis.
On 12 October, Recitation was sent to France to contest that country's most prestigious two-year-old race, the Group One Grand Critérium over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse.
Recitation was then switched to the outside and produced a strong late run to dispute the lead 200m from the finish and won by a short-head from the Irish-trained Critique.
[4] Recitation began his three-year-old season in the Group Three 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes over seven furlongs at Salisbury Racecourse and won easily by two lengths from Tahoe and Dalby Mustang.
With the Harwood stable relying on To-Agori-Mou in the 2000 Guineas, Recitation was sent to contest the French equivalent, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp on 26 April.