In late September Kris started 8/11 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot despite carrying seven pounds more than weight-for-age. He drew away in the last quarter mile to win by five lengths from Foveros, with Jellaby three lengths back in third. Despite rumors that he would move up in distance for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket in October, the colt was actually dropped back in trip to end the 1979 season with a run in the Challenge Stakes over seven furlongs at the same course. Starting at odds of 4/9 he broke the course record for a three-year-old as he won by two and a half lengths from the Diadem Stakes winner Absalom. Although he easily defeated all his British rivals, he was never matched against his contemporary Irish River, who was equally dominant over one mile in France, beating Lyphard's Wish (Kris's stable companion) in the Prix du Moulin.