In 2012, Danedream ran poorly in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud but then became the first German-trained horse to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, beating an international field at Ascot.

On her next start, Danedream was moved up in distance to 2300m and gave the first indication of her true ability when running third against colts in the Derby Italiano in Rome.

Three weeks later in Milan she recorded her first important victory in the Group Two Oaks d'Italia, taking the lead 400m from the finish and pulling away from her opponents to win by six and a half lengths.

She was never able to reach the leaders however, and finished sixth of the sixteen runners behind the five-year-old mare Buena Vista, beaten three and a half lengths.

[18] On 24 June, Danedream started odd-on favourite for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud but after briefly taking the lead, she was overtaken in the straight and finished last of the four runners behind Meandre.

On July 21, Danedream was sent to contest Britain's most prestigious all-aged race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

The field of ten included the Group One winners St Nicholas Abbey, Dunaden, Masked Marvel, Nathaniel, Deep Brillante and Reliable Man.

Danedream returned to Germany for her second Grosser Preis von Baden in September, in which her main rivals appeared to be the three-year-old colts Pastorius and Novellist who had finished first and second in the Deutsches Derby.

Reportedly unsuited by the slow early pace, Danedream took the lead in the straight and held the persistent challenge of Ovambo Queen to win by half a length, with Pastorius the same distance away in third.

A week before Danedream was scheduled to run in her second Arc a horse at the Cologne training centre tested positive for equine infectious anaemia.