[2] He entered the ownership of Dr Jim Walker, a Scottish-born, Hong Kong-based economist,[3] and was taken into training by Johnston at Middleham Moor, North Yorkshire.
He was ridden by Jason Hart in a novice race on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Chelmsford City Racecourse on 5 July and recorded his first victory as he took the lead approaching the final furlong and drew away from his three opponents to win "very easily" by seven lengths.
The 2020 flat racing season in England was disrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and Subjectivist did not reappear until 17 June when he started at odds of 22/1 for the King George V Stakes over one and a half miles at Royal Ascot and finished third behind Hukum and Kipps.
[3] Two weeks after his win at Hamilton, similar tactics were employed by Fanning on Subjectivist in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse but on this occasion he was overtaken inside the final furlong and was beaten into third place by Mogul and Highland Chief.
In the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York Racecourse on 19 August he set the pace again but faded badly in the last quarter mile and came home seventh behind Pyledriver, beaten eight lengths by the winner.
Fanning sent him into the lead from the start and the colt drew away from his opponents in the straight to win by fifteen lengths from the filly Cabaletta (winner of the Aphrodite Stakes).
On 25 October Subjectivist was sent to France for the Prix Royal-Oak over 3100 metres on heavy ground at Longchamp Racecourse in which he was matched against older horses for the first time.
He started the 6/1 third favourite behind Valia (Prix Chaudenay) and Princess Zoe in an eight-runner field which also included Holdthasigreen (winner of the race in 2018).