 Alleged did not appear on a racecourse until November 1976, when he won the 7-furlong Donnelly's Hollow Maiden Stakes by 8 lengths at the Curragh.As a three-year-old he won the Ballydoyle Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in April in workmanlike style but then created a 33/1 upset by winning the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh, beating his stable companion Valinsky who started favourite as well as the previous year's Irish St Leger winner, Meneval.Alleged then won the Gallinule Stakes and was originally scheduled to run in the Irish Derby, but Vincent O'Brien decided to run Epsom Derby winner The Minstrel instead and rested Alleged until August when he outclassed a strong field in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.