Ghanaati is a "big, strong",[1] dark-coated bay mare bred by her owner, Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell Farm at Lexington, Kentucky.

Her dam, Sarayir won three races, and as a daughter of the mare Height of Fashion, was a sister of Nashwan, Unfuwain and Nayef.

As a descendant of the 1000 Guineas winner Highclere, Ghanaati is also closely related to the Japanese champion Deep Impact.

She was not considered a major contender and started at odds of 20/1 in a field fourteen fillies with Rainbow View being made the 8/11 favourite.

Ghanaati survived a bump two furlongs from the finish before taking the lead and winning comfortably by two lengths from Raggane.

[1] As her owner felt that she had little to prove against three-year-old fillies,[11] Ghanaati was then tried against colts and older horses in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in July.

[12] Ghanaati was then rested until October when she contested the Sun Chariot Stakes, over the same course and distance as the 1000 Guineas and started 6/5 favourite.