before the start of the 1903 season, gubbins reportedly turned down an offer of £15,000 for ard patrick from samuel s. brown of pittsburgh. ard patrick showed his best form in two races as a four-year-old. he made his first appearance on 1 july in the £10,000 princess of wales's stakes at newmarket. he conceded weight to his opponents and won "in a canter" from royal lancer and cheers. before his next race, ard patrick was sold as a prospective stallion to count lehndorff acting for the german government for £21,000, although a condition of the sale was that he would run in gubbins' colours in his remaining races.