She was from the fifth crop of foals sired by Deep Impact, who was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2006, winning races including the Tokyo Yushun, Tenno Sho, Arima Kinen and Japan Cup.

[2] Shonan Adela's dam Always Willing was bred in Kentucky and won minor race in the United States before being bought for $310,000 by Shimokobe Farm in November 2009 and exported to Japan in the following year.

Roca was made favourite ahead of Let's Go Donki, Caught Charmant (Rindo Sho) and Kokorono Ai (Artemis Stakes) in an eighteen-runner field.

[6] Ridden by Masayoshi Ebina Shonan Adela started slowly and raced towards the rear of the field before making a forward move on the final turn.

The mare returned for one final run in April 2017 when she finished last of the sixteen runners behind Logi Chalice in the Grade 3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy at Nakayama Racecourse.