As a three-year-old in 1996 he won the St. Leger and the Gran Premio del Jockey Club as well as finishing third in the Epsom Derby and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Shantou was a bay horse with a white sock on his left hind leg bred in the Kentucky by his owner Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud.

He was beaten when favourite for his next two starts finishing third to Amfortas in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and second in the Listed July Trophy at Haydock Park.

[7] Shantou was then sent to Italy for the Group 1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club over 2400 metres at San Siro Racecourse in Milan when he was matched against older horses for the first time.

[9] On 8 July at Newmarket the colt started 11/4 second favourite for the Princess of Wales's Stakes and produced a strong late run to win by a head from Swain, with Celeric, Dushyantor and Lady Carla finishing behind.