Hibaayeb is a dark bay mare with a small white star[2] bred in the United Kingdom by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited.

[3] Hibaayeb's dam Lady Zonda showed moderate ability as a racehorse, winning two minor races from twelve starts as a three-year-old in 2002.

[5] The filly was owned in the early part of her racing career by Mohammed Al Nabouda and was initially sent into training with Clive Brittain at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket.

Despite being beaten in her first two races the filly was stepped up in class and distance for the Group Two May Hill Stakes over one mile at Doncaster Racecourse on 11 September and started the 40/1 outsider of the seven runners.

[8] Brittain said "Not many people try to win a group I with a maiden, but in my eyes she had already run two races that she could have won... She is progressing, which is the most important thing, but I don't want to gallop her into the ground.

She was reported as being "in the form of her life"[13] in the build-up to the race and started the 100/30 favourite but made no impact and finished last of the fifteen runners behind Snow Fairy.

Her next two races saw little improvement as she finished fourth when favourite for the Preis der Diana in Germany and seventh of eight behind Midday in the Yorkshire Oaks on 19 August.

The filly was then sent to the United States to contest the Grade I Yellow Ribbon Stakes over one and a quarter miles at Hollywood Park Racetrack on 2 October in which she was ridden by Rafael Bejarano.

Hibaayed recovered from a slow start to move up into third place behind Gypsy's Warning but was forced to the wide outside approaching the final turn.

[15] On her final appearance of the year, Hibaayeb started a 25/1 outsider for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs and finished eighth of the eleven runners behind Shared Account.

[17] Four weeks later the filly started favourite for the New York Stakes over ten furlongs at the same track but finished third of the six runners behind Giant's Play and Zagora.