Ruthless Dame is the third foal out of Ruthless Lady (Keeper), a winner who was second in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes, and the best of her three winners. The mare has also produced the two-time winners Peerless Warrior (Savabeel) and Tafika (Tavistock).

Second dam Lady Dehere (Dehere) won four races, including the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes. She is also the dam of Oracy (Zabeel), a triple Group winner based in South Africa whose wins include the Gr.2 Gauteng Guineas, and later a sire, and of the Listed winners The Lady (Stravinsky), who took the Listed Star Way Stakes, and Lady Maroal (Power), winner of the Listed Champagne Stakes. Lady Dehere is a half-sister to Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), winner of the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000, and to Oratorio (Stravinsky), winner of the Gr.3 C S Hayes Stakes and a successful sire.

Third dam Express A Smile (Success Express) was unraced. She is a full sister to Snapshots, a Listed winner who was Group 2-placed.

Fourth dam Hold That Smile (Haulpak) was a Group 1 winner in Australia and is a full sister to the dual Group 2 winner Carry A Smile (Haulpak). The family descends from the matriarch Cinna (Polymelus), a 1000 Guineas winner, and besides Sea Siren and Oratorio it includes the Group winner Chabaud (Lookin At Lucky).

Ruthless Lady's 2-year-old Langmore (Almanzor) has finished second twice from four starts. She also has a yearling filly by Super Seth, foaled a colt by Ocean Park in October and was then covered by Sword Of State.