Hello Gorgeous's dam Bonny Jet was an unremarkable racehorse who won three minor races, and was a descendant of the British-bred broodmare California.
[2] When offered for sale at Saratoga as a yearling, Hello Gorgeous failed to reach his reserve price but was bought privately by the French art dealer Daniel Wildenstein.
Hello Gorgeous, who reportedly bore a striking resemblance to his grandsire Raise a Native[4] was named after a quotation from the film Funny Girl.
After a break of three months, the colt returned to action in the Denis Bushby Stakes over seven furlongs at Great Yarmouth Racecourse in September, and finished second, beaten half a length by the Bruce Hobbs-trained filly Vielle.
Later in September, Hello Gorgeous was moved up in class and distance to contest the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes over one mile at Ascot Racecourse and started the 5/4[6] favourite.
Despite the small field, the favourite found himself boxed in against the inside rail in the straight before Mercer extricated him by switching to the outside a furlong from the finish.
[5] As in the Royal Lodge, there were several late withdrawals including the Vincent O'Brien-trained Huguenot who had been strongly fancied for the race after winning the Beresford Stakes.
Rather than contest the 2000 Guineas over one mile at Newmarket Racecourse the colt ran in the Heathorn Stakes over ten furlongs at the same meeting and was beaten a neck into second by the Luca Cumani-trained Royal Fountain.
His opponents were Master Willie, Tyrnavos, Dukedom (White Rose Stakes), Water Mill, World Leader and Count Fernando.