Tenebrism is a bay filly with a white star and snip bred in Kentucky by Merriebelle Stables in association with Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, a breeding company linked to the Coolmore Stud.

[3] Immortal Verse's dam Side of Paradise won the listed Prix La Camargo at Saint-Cloud Racecourse in 2001,[4] and was a half-sister to Last Tycoon and the Goldene Peitsche winner Astronef.

[5] Tenebrism made her track debut in a maiden race over five furlongs on soft ground at Naas Racecourse on 28 March when she was ridden by Seamie Heffernan and started the 7/2 favourite.

After racing towards the rear of the nine-runner field and running "green" (showing inexperience) she accelerated into the lead inside the final furlong and drew away to win by three and three quarter lengths.

[6] After an absence of six months, Tenebrism returned in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 25 September and started a 14/1 outsider in a twelve-runner field.