[3] Troutbeck ran three times as a two-year-old but failed to win or place although he showed somepromise when coming home fourth behind the filly Colonia in the Gimcrack Stakes at York Racecourse in August.

[7] After disputing the lead from the start he went to the front in the straight but was outpaced in the closing stages and finished third behind Spearmint and Picton, beaten three and a half lengths by the winner.

[8] Shortly after winning the Duchess of York Plate at Hurst Park in June Troutbeck was dropped back in distance for the seven furlong Jersey Stakes Royal Ascot in which he was ridden by Herbert Jones and won at odds of 4/7.

[10][11] In August the colt won for the seventh time as he took the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse at odds of 1/4, with Jones again in the saddle[9] and then recorded yet another success in the City of London Breeders' Foal Plate at Kempton.

[12] On 12 September at Doncaster Racecourse Troutbeck, ridden by the French jockey Georges Stern, started at 5/1 for the 131st running of the St Leger over 14+1⁄2 furlongs.

The filly Keystone II started the 5/4 favourite while the other runners included Gorgos, Plum Tree (Goodwood Cup), Beppo and th French colt Storm (third in the Grand Prix de Paris).

Troubeck still held the lead entering the straight but Beppo and Keystone were now close behind and the unconsidered outsider Prince William began tomake rapid progress along the inside rail.