 Run in a trial, Bayardo showed his talent early by defeating several other two-year-olds and a three-year-old.He was then sent to his first race, the New Stakes at the Royal Ascot, which he won easily under jockey Bernard Dillon.He continued his winning streak throughout his two-year-old season, usually ridden by Danny Maher, including the National Breeders' Produce Stakes, the Richmond Stakes, the Buckenham Stakes, the Rous Memorial Stakes, the Middle Park Plate, and the Dewhurst Plate (beating the filly Perola, who won The Oaks the following year).