In the following spring he won the Prix de La Jonchere and then became the first horse to win both the 2000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
Épinard was a representative of the Byerley Turk sire line,[4] unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian.
[12] Rodosto returned to France for the French equivalent of the 2000 Guineas, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains over 1600 metres at Longchamp on 14 May in which showed "grit and determination" to win narrowly from Commander and Vertigineux and became the first horse to complete the double.
[13] Later that month he returned to England for the Epsom Derby, accompanied by an entourage which included several security personnel, although his most reliable guard, a large Alsatian dog was denied entry to the country.
[14] He was disputing favouritism in the betting with the eventual winner Hyperion but was withdrawn after suffering an attack of cramp on the eve of the race.
On his first start as a four-year-old Rodosto finished third behind Le Centaure and Assuerus in the Prix Exbury over 2000 metres at Saint-Cloud Racecourse in March.
In April Rodosto attempted to take the Prix de La Jonchere for a second time, but appeared to have lost his chance by swerving at the start and losing several lengths.