 She was bred by Mark Hough, in New South Wales, after her dam was purchased from trainer Tommy Smith for just $1,700 due to her unsound conformation and her breeding (her sire was standing at a fee of only $1,500 at the time).Her breeder was only interested in her as a broodmare, and approached her trainer, Neville Begg, to recommend someone who would lease her for racing purposes.Unraced at two, Emancipation raced only at three and four, and won 19 of her 28 starts.