Simply Perfect is a grey mare with white socks on her hind legs bred by Derek Clee's Trehedyn Stud[2] Her sire Danehill (who died in 2003) was one of the most successful stallions of the last twenty years, producing the winners of more than a thousand races, including one hundred and fifty-six at Group One/Grade I level.
[3] Simply Perfect's dam, Hotelgenie Dot Com, from whom she inherited her colour, won only one minor race, but finished second in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and third in the Fillies' Mile.
On 5 October she was bought for 220,000 guineas by the bloodstock agent Dermot "Demi" O'Byrne, acting on behalf of John Magnier's Coolmore organisation.
[6] Unlike most Coolmore horses, which are handled by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle, Simply Perfect was sent into training with Jeremy Noseda at Newmarket.
Sixteen days later she was moved up in class to contest the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished second of the fifteen runners behind the Richard Hannon Sr.-trained Gilded.
In July, the filly dropped back to maiden company for a race at Lingfield Park Racecourse and recorded her first victory, winning at odds of 2/13.
[7] Two weeks later at Ascot, the filly finished third, beaten half a length and a neck by Scarlet Runner and Vital Statistics in the Group Three Princess Margaret Stakes, with the favourite Indian Ink in fourth.
[9] After the race, Noseda described Simply Perfect as "a tough, honest filly who was fast enough to finish placed in the Queen Mary, and to be still going forward as she has is a great credit to her.
Three weeks later, Simply Perfect was sent to the United States to contest the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Monmouth Park Racetrack.