Masaka was a bay mare with white socks on her hind legs[3] bred in Ireland by her owner Aga Khan III.
At Royal Ascot in June she was ridden by Charlie Smirke in the Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs and won from her stablemate Open Sesame at odds of 4/1.
Masaka began her second season with a very easy win in the 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Kempton Park Racecourse in April.
In the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket she was ridden by Ken Gethin and started 9/4 favourite in a twenty-two runner field.
[7] Billy Nevett took the ride when the filly contested the 170th running of the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Racecourse on 3 June.
[8] She started at odds of 7/1 against twenty-four rivals including the King's filly Angelola, winner of the (Lingfield Oaks Trial).