Akiyda was a dark brown mare with a white sock on her left hind foot[2] bred in the United Kingdom by Marcel Boussac.
Imyar's female line was also distinguished as his grandam was Ormara a full sister to the Prix d'le Arc de Triomphe winner Coronation.
[4] For most of her three-year-old season, Akiyda was campaigned in races restricted to horses of her own age and sex, competing against an unusually strong group of French fillies.
In May she was moved up in distance and recorded her first win of the year when beating First Water by one and a half lengths in the Prix des Tuileries over 2400m at Longchamp.
The Irish-trained Assert started favourite ahead of Bon Sang (winner of the Prix Niel), Ardross, Harbour and Bikala with Akiyda next in the betting on 11/1.
Bikala and Bon Sang set a very strong pace as they disputed the lead for most of the way, with Yves Saint-Martin settling Akiyda close behind.
When the leaders began to tire in the straight, Saint-Martin sent Akiyda into the lead along the rail and the filly established a two-length advantage over the field.
She was strongly challenged in the closing stages but held on to win by a head from Ardross, with Awaasif and April Run less than a length away in third and fourth.
[4] The prediction proved correct as Akiyda was given a Timeform rating of 131 in the following year, making her the equal-best three-year-old filly of the season alongside Time Charter.