[8] Suave Richard made his three-year-old debut in the Tokinominoru Kinen (a trial race for the Satsuki Sho) over 1800 metres at Tokyo on 12 February and started the 2.1/1 second favourite.

Ridden by Hirofumi Shii he settled behind the leaders before staying on in the straight, taking the lead in the last 200 metres and drawing away to win by two and a half lengths from Etre Digne.

[9] In the 77th running of the Satsuki Sho at Nakayama Racecourse on 26 April he started second choice in the betting but although he finished strongly he was never able to reach the leaders and came home sixth behind Al Ain.

[11] After a break of over five months, Suave Richard returned in the Grade 2 Copa Republica Argentina over 2500 metres at Tokyo, a race in which he was matched against older horses for the first time and ridden by Mirco Demuro, who became his regular jockey.

After racing in mid division, he moved up on the inside entering the straight, gained the advantage 300 metres out and quickly broke clear of the field to win by two and a half lengths from the five-year-old Sole Impact.

[12] On his final run of the season, the colt contested the Arima Kinen at Nakayama on 24 December and came home fourth of the sixteen runners behind Kitasan Black, Queens Ring and Cheval Grand.

[15] Three weeks later, the colt contested the Grade 1 Osaka Hai over the same distance at Hanshin and went off the 2.5/1 favourite in a sixteen-runner field which also included Al Ain, Satono Diamond, Cheval Grand, and the Mile Championship winner Persian Knight.

[16] In June, the colt was dropped back in distance for the Yasuda Kinen over 1600 metres and started favourite, but after challenging for the lead in the straight he was outpaced in the final strides and came home third behind Mozu Ascot and Aerolithe, beaten a neck and three quarters of a length.

Returning from a lengthy summer break, Suave Richard was made favourite for the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho at Tokyo on 28 October, but after being badly hampered shortly after the start, he was never in serious contention and finished tenth behind Rey de Oro.

Rather than attempt a repeat victory in the Osaka Hai, the horse was sent to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse on 30 March.

On 24 November Suave Richard was one of fifteen horses to contest the 39th running of the Japan Cup and started the 4.1/1 third choice in the betting behind Rey de Oro and Wagnerian.

Ridden by Oisin Murphy he raced in mid-division he made a forward move on the inside entering the straight, gained the advantage 200 metres from the finish and held off the challenge of the three-year-old filly Curren Bouquetd'Or to win by three quarters of a length.