In the following year he was beaten twice in spring but then established himself as a top-class miler with wins in the St James's Palace Stakes and the Celebration Mile.
[3] She went on to produce the Ascot Gold Cup winner Paean and, as a descendant of the broodmare My Game, was closely related to Marwell, Marling and Unite.
Cauthen sent him into the lead from the start and the colt drew away in the closing stages to win by three lengths from Kaheel (later to finish fourth in The Derby) with Lord Florey in third.
[5] Shavian began his three-year-old season in the Craven Stakes (a trial race for the 2000 Guineas) over one mile at Newmarket Racecourse on 19 April.
He was moved up in distance for his next race, the Predominate Stakes over ten furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse and was ridden by Willie Ryan as Cauthen opted to ride his stable companion Razeen.
[8][9] On 1 August, Shavian was matched against older horses for the first time in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse and started 100/30 favourite in a seven-runner field.
His four opponents were Lord Florey, Mirror Black (Badener Meile), Safawan (Lockinge Stakes) and Candy Glen (Gran Criterium, Premio Parioli).