In 1850 he won The Derby and the St Leger against his fellow three-year-olds and then recorded his most famous victory when beating The Flying Dutchman in the Doncaster Cup.

[4] Although Voltigeur did not run in the spring of 1850 he was quietly fancied for the Epsom Derby with his support being particularly strong in Yorkshire where Zetland owned large estates[7] and among the order of Freemasons of which he was a Grand Master.

Zetland was determined to withdraw Voltigeur, but was persuaded to pay the entry fee after representations from his Yorkshire tenants, who explained that they had wagered heavily on the horse and faced ruin if he failed.

[3] Voltigeur performed poorly in an exercise gallop shortly after arriving at Epsom, and was allowed to start at odds of 16/1 in a field of twenty-four runners.

Inside the final furlong (0.20 km), Voltigeur took the lead ahead of the favourite Clincher and ran on strongly to win comfortably by a length.

In the closing stages Voltigeur began to tire and was caught in the last strides by Russborough, despite being hard ridden by Marson who had to use his spurs on the favourite.

[13] At the second attempt, Marson was able to ride a waiting race on Voltigeur, tracking Russborough before moving ahead inside the final furlong to win "cleverly" by a length.

Despite his exertions, he turned out two days later for the Doncaster Cup in which he was the only horse to oppose The Flying Dutchman, the winner of the 1849 Derby and St Leger and undefeated in thirteen career starts.

The Flying Dutchman, whose jockey appeared to be the worse for drink, set off at an exceptionally fast pace[14] and Marson was able to bide his time on Voltigeur.

[3] According to a lengthy analysis of the race published in Bell's Life, previous great matches, such as the one at Newmarket between Hambletonian and Diamond in 1799, "fell into insignificance" in comparison with the York event.

[19] One day after his defeat, Voltigeur turned out for the York and Ainsty Hunt Cup over two miles (3.2 km), in which he was surprisingly beaten by a three-year-old filly named Nancy.

[20] Voltigeur was successful on his five-year-old debut on 20 April when he carried top weight of 125 pounds (57 kg) to victory a race at York named "The Flying Dutchman Handicap", proving himself "very game" by staying on under extreme pressure to win by a head.

[21] He started 7/4 favourite but finished only fifth at Ascot, behind Joe Miller in the Emperor of Russia's Plate, where he appeared less than fully fit and was unsuited by the soft, muddy ground.

[22] In the Ebor Handicap at York in August, he again carried top weight but was eased down when beaten and finished eighth behind Adine, a filly to whom he was conceding forty-six pounds.