Shiva was a chestnut mare with a narrow white blaze bred in Japan by Northern Farm in partnership with Stavros Niarchos.
She was sired by Hector Protector, an American-bred stallion who won five Group 1 races in France including the Gran Criterium, Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix Jacques Le Marois.
Despite her lengthy absence and the sharp rise in class she started the 7/1 fourth choice in the betting behind Haami (winner of the Darley Stakes), White Heart (Doncaster Mile) and Handsome Ridge (Prix Perth).
[7] Henry Cecil commented "Shiva has had problems all her life, mostly with her knees, but I asked Maria Niarchos if I could keep her because I thought she would be a Group 1 horse.
[8] Willie Ryan took the ride when Shiva started second favourite behind Chester House in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on 15 June.
The filly never looked like winning and came home seventh of the eight runners, twelve lengths behind the winner Lear Spear, a horse she had beaten easily in the Earl of Sefton.
On her first run of 2000 Shiva started favourite to repeat her 1999 success in the Earl of Sefton Stakes but finished unplaced behind Indian Lodge.
On heavy ground at Sandown Park on 30 May Shiva started favourite for the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes against seven opponents including Border Arrow and Beat All both of whom had finished third in the Epsom Derby (in 1998 and 1999 respectively) as well as Elle Danzig (Bayerisches Zuchtrennen), Lady In Waiting (Sun Chariot Stakes) and Diamond White (Prix de l'Opéra).
Three weeks later she was moved up in distance for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 1+1⁄2 miles at Ascot but finished tailed off in last place behind Montjeu.