She spent much of her early career being overshadowed by her more illustrious stablemates Rhododendron and Winter (despite beating the latter in the 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes).

Hydrangea is a bay filly with a small white star bred in Ireland by the Beauty is Truth Syndicate, a breeding company associated with the Coolmore Stud.

His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle, Found Minding and Ruler of the World.

She was a descendant of the broodmare Irish Lass (foaled 1962), the female-line ancestor of numerous major winners including Bikala, Assert, Eurobird and Last Tycoon.

On her last run of the year she was sent to California to contest the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Park but came home last of the fourteen runners behind New Money Honey.

The field was a very strong one: Winter started favourite while the other contenders included Qemah, Persuasive, Roly Poly, Wuheida, Rhododendron and Intricately.

[12] On her four-year-old debut, Hydrangea started favourite for the Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh in May but was beaten into second place by the Mick Channon-trained Opal Tiara.