Teenoso third favourite for the Lingfield Derby Trial in May. He took the lead five furlongs from the finish and stayed on well to win by three lengths from Shearwalk. When Lester Piggott, who had won the race eight times previously, elected to ride Teenoso in the Derby, the colt was strongly supported in the betting and started 9/2 favourite in a field of twenty-one runners. Racing on the heaviest ground seen at Epsom for many years, Teenoso was among the leaders from the start. Piggott sent the colt into the lead early in the straight and he was never in
Shirley Heights (horse) Stakes winner Julio Mariner in the Dante Stakes, one of the leading trial races for the Epsom Derby at odds of 10/1. His "smooth victory" established him as a leading contender for the Epsom classic. At Epsom in June, Shirley Heights started at odds of 8/1 in a field of twenty-five runners for the Derby, with Inkerman, ridden by Lester Piggott being made 4/1 favourite in what was considered a substandard renewal of the race. The 25/1 outsider Hawaiian Sound, ridden by the American Willie Shoemaker took the lead soon after the start, and led the field into the straight