Imperial Emperor is out of Zhukova (Fastnet Rock), a multiple Group winner in Ireland and a highweighted older mare in Europe at 9.5 to 11 furlongs, who became a Grade 1 winner in the US in the Man o' War Stakes, then a Grade 1. He is a full brother to First Ruler, a winner and stakes-placed in England and Bahrain, and a half-brother to the winner Ilda Rosa (Lope De Vega), multiple stakes-placed in France and placed at Group 3 level in Germany. Zhukova is a half-sister to Ghaiyyath.

Second dam Nightime (Galileo) won the Gr.1 Irish 1000 Guineas and produced eight winners. Among them are the sire Ghaiyyath (Dubawi), a multiple Group 1 winner and European Horse of the Year in 2020, Knight To King (Kingman), a winner placed in the Gr.3 Amethyst Stakes, and Sleeping Beauty (Oasis Dream), a winner placed in the Listed Salsabil Stakes and the dam of the Group 3-placed winner Irish Territory.

Third dam Caumshinaun (Indian Ridge) won the Listed Platinum Stakes and has nine winners. They include Mermaid Island (Mujadil), placed in the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes and the mother of Ondina, a Listed winner, and of Holy Cow, a winner placed at Listed level; Phaenomena (Galileo), a dual winner and the dam of King Of Koji, twice a Group 2 winner, and the Group 3 winner Harajuku; and Seagull (Sea The Stars), a winner and the dam of the Group 2 winner Qilin Queen and the Listed winner Monbaher.

Zhukova has a two-year-old full sister to Imperial Emperor plus a yearling colt by Lope De Vega.