Julio Mariner

Julio Mariner made his debut in the Acomb Stakes at York Racecourse in August when he lost a great deal of ground at the start and finished unplaced. In the Sancton Stakes over seven furlongs at the same venue later that month he was beaten a short head by Tannenberg, with the two finishing twelve lengths clear of the other runners. In the following month he was moved up in class and distance for the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes over one mile at Ascot Racecourse. He finished fourth behind Shirley Heights, Bolak and Hawaiian Sound with the independent Timeform organisation suggesting that he may have been unsuited by the firm ground.[6]

He returned to York in early October and recorded his first success in the Leyburn Stakes, drawing well clear of his opponents in the closing stages. On his final appearance of the season, Julio Mariner contested the William Hill Futurity, the most valuable race for two-year-olds ever run in Britain. In a rough race, Julio Mariner was repeatedly blocked before being switched to the wide outside by his rider Eddie Hide to obtain a clear run in the last quarter mile. The colt made up a great deal of ground but failed by a head to catch Dactylographer. Timeform commented that "he would have won by a length or two with a clear run".[6]

Julio Mariner began his second season at York in May when he contested the Dante Stakes, a major trial race for The Derby. He took the lead three furlongs from the finish before finishing second, beaten one and a half lengths by Shirley Heights. In the Derby, he looked likely to take a hand in the finish but weakened in the closing stages to finish sixth, more than eight lengths behind Shirley Heights.[7] In the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot he finished unplaced behind Classic Example and then won a minor race over one mile at York. In the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York in August he was equipped with blinkers but made little impact, finishing eighth of the ten runners behind Hawaiian Sound. By this time, Julio Mariner's career was regarded as a major disappointment, with both his stamina and courage being questioned.[8]

In September, Julio Mariner started a 28/1 outsider for the 202nd running of the St Leger Stakes over fourteen and a half furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse. The favourite for the race was the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Ile de Bourbon, while the other major contenders included Le Moss and the Grand Prix de Paris winner Galiani. In a change of tactics, Hide retrained the colt at the back of the fourteen runner field before beginning to move forward approaching the final turn. Julio Mariner continued to make steady progress, overtaking the leader Obraztsovy approaching the final furlong and winning by one and a half lengths from the fast-finishing Le Moss, with M-Lolshan beating Obraztsovy for third place. On his final appearance, Julio Mariner was brought back in distance for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse in October. He was never able to mount a serious challenge but made some progress in the closing stages to finish eleventh of the eighteen runners behind Alleged.[8]