Rodrigo de Triano made his debut on 4 July 1991 with a win in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Maiden Stakes at Haydock Park Racecourse.

Given two months off, on 18 August at York Racecourse, Rodrigo de Triano and Piggott returned to top form, defeating Dr. Devious while winning the International Stakes.

He next won the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on 17 October defeating Lahib by a neck and then a week later was sold for US$6.2 million to the Japan Racing Association.

[2] His new owners sent him to the United States to compete in the US$3 million Breeders' Cup Classic on 31 October, hosted that year by Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Racing on dirt for the first time, and starting from post position eleven in a fourteen horse field, Rodrigo de Triano was never in contention and finished last behind winner A.P.