Although only five horses took part, they included the odds-on favourite Zamindar (an unbeaten brother of Zafonic), the July Stakes winner Rich Ground and the year's outstanding filly Pas de Reponse. Bahamian Bounty and Zamindar disputed the lead from the start and raced together throughout the closing stages, with the English-trained colt prevailing by a short neck. After the race Loder called him "a lovely horse with a tremendous temperament" and the bookmakers offered him at 16/1 for the following year's 2000 Guineas, although his pedigree suggested that he would be most likely to make an impact as a sprinter. The six-furlong Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in October saw Bahamian Bounty sent off the 7/4 favourite ahead of ten rivals including Easycall (Richmond Stakes), Rich Ground, Muchea (Zukunfts-Rennen) and Deep Finesse (Prix du Bois). Dettori held the colt up in the early stages but then had problems finding space for a challenge in the final quarter mile. When a gap appeared Bahamian Bounty "flashed" through to settle the race "in a matter of strides". He idled after hitting the front and had to be driven out to beat Muchea by a head. After the race Dettori praised the colt's "terrific turn of foot." On his final start of the season, Bahamian Bounty attempted to become the first Middle Park winner to add the seven-furlong Dewhurst Stakes since Diesis in 1982. As in the Middle Park Stakes, Bahamian Bounty had trouble finding a clear run after being held up. On this occasion, however, he could not reach the leaders and finished fourth to In Command, beaten less than two lengths. 1997: three-year-old season Bahamian Bounty spent the winter in Dubai before returning to England with the rest of the Godolphin team in late April. Running for his new stable, Bahamian Bounty failed to reproduce his best form in two starts as a three-year-old. At Longchamp he was made 11/10 joint favourite for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, but after leading in the middle part of the race he faded badly to finish last of the six runners behind Daylami. Two months later he returned to a sprint distance in the July Cup at Newmarket where he finished fourth of the nine runners behind the 50/1 outsider Compton Place. Assessment In November 1996, Bahamian Bounty was named European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt at the Cartier Racing Awards, although the situation was somewhat