Three weeks after his win in the Tetrarch, Prince of Birds was one of fourteen colts to contest the Irish 2000 Guineas over one mile at the Curragh and with Reid riding the stable's more fancied contender Caerwent, he was partnered by Declan Gillespie. The Minstrel Stakes winner Executive Perk started favourite ahead of the French challenger Dramatis and Caerwent with Prince of Birds next in the betting on 9/1. The best of the four British-trained runners appeared to be Intimidate who had finished runner-up in the Mill Reef Stakes, Gimcrack Stakes and Greenham Stakes. Prince of Birds raced towards the rear of the field and was not in the first ten as the leaders approached the last quarter mile. He began to make rapid progress through the centre but appeared hopelessly boxed-in as Caerwent and Executive Perk disputed the lead inside the final furlong. In the closing stages the favourite weakened abruptly and drifted to the right, opening up a gap through which Gillespie was able to drive his mount. Prince of Birds caught Caerwent on the line and won by a neck from his stablemate with Intimidate taking third ahead of Executive Perk.
