Christophe Soumillon
On 2 August, Araafa was matched against older horses for the first time and started 11/10 favourite for the Sussex Stakes over one mile at Goodwood Racecourse. He took the lead two furlongs out but weakened in the closing stages and finished fifth of the seven runners behind the six-year-old Court Masterpiece. Christophe Soumillon took over from Munro when the colt contested the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in September. After briefly taking the lead in the straight he was overtaken and beaten one and a quarter lengths into second place by George Washington, with Court Masterpiece two lengths away in third. On his final start, Araafa was sent to the United States to contest the Breeders' Cup Mile on 4 November at Churchill Downs. Ridden by John Velazquez, he was made the 11/4 favourite but after reaching third place in the straight he weakened in the final furlong and finished ninth of the fourteen runners behind Miesque's Approval.