Shadeed was a big, rangy bay horse with a small white star bred in Kentucky by Cherry Tree Farm.

[3] Shadeed made his first appearance in the Westley Maiden Stakes at Newmarket in October, where he started favourite on the basis of his home reputation.

He tracked the leaders in the early stages before moving into the lead two furlongs from the finish and pulling clear to win easily by two and a half lengths from Tiber Creek.

Shadeed was always traveling easily before taking the lead two furlongs from the finish and pulling away from his opponents to win by six lengths from Damister.

Before the race he seemed highly agitated and was sent to the start without taking part in the parade in front of the stands, for which offence Stoute was fined by the racecourse stewards.

[4] With Swinburn suspended, he was ridden by the veteran Lester Piggott who had previously committed to ride Bairn for trainer Luca Cumani.

Despite concerns about his temperament, Shadeed appeared calm before the race but he ran "deplorably",[4] never figuring among the leaders and finishing thirteenth of the fourteen runners behind Slip Anchor, beaten by more than fifty lengths.

The figure place him sixth among all European-trained horses behind Slip Anchor (95), Petoski (94), Rainbow Quest (93), Sagace (93) and Pebbles (92).