Shawanda is a bay mare with a narrow white blaze bred in Ireland by her owner the Aga Khan at his Gilltown Stud in County Kildare.
[5] Shawanda began her racing career in the Prix Dushka, for previously unraced three-year-old fillies over 2100 metres on heavy ground at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse on 1 April and finished second of the fourteen runners, a length behind the winner L'Enjoleuse.
Later that month she started the 1.7/1 favourite for a maiden race over 2000 metres at Chantilly Racecourse and recorded her first success, going clear of her rivals in the closing stages and winning by two and a half lengths.
[7] On 4 June Shawanda was moved up in class and distance for the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont over 2400 metres at Chantilly and started the 6/5 favourite against five opponents.
[8] The filly was then sent to Ireland for the Group 1 Irish Oaks over one and a half miles at the Curragh on 17 July and started the 9/2 second favourite behind the British-trained Dash to the Top.
Dash to the Top and Royal Highness were again in opposition, whilst the other three runners were Lune d'Or (Premio Lydia Tesio), Something Exciting (second in the Epsom Oaks) and Paita (third in the Prix de Diane).
After tracking the leader she took the lead in the straight but was outpaced in the closing stages and finished sixth behind Hurricane Run, Westerner, Bago, Shirocco and Motivator.