Barcarolle made her first racecourse appearance on 20 April at the Newmarket Craven meeting where she contested a Sweepstakes restricted to horses owned by "Members of the Coffee-room". The weather at meeting was unusually cold, with rain, sleet, snow and strong winds. She started the outsider of the three runners for the race over the Rowley Mile course and finished second to Mr Batson's filly Vespertilio. On 3 May Barcarolle, ridden by Edward Edwards, was one of six fillies, from an original entry of twenty-two, to contest the 1000 Guineas over the Ditch Mile course. She started second favourite at odds of 4/1 and won from Lord Exeter's fillies Mecca and Romania. Barcarolle was considered a serious contender for The Oaks after her win at Newmarket, but was ruled out of the race when she fell victim to the outbreak of "coughs and inflammatory sore throats" which affected many leading horses that spring.
