With Shirocco as her sire and Beat Hollow as her damsire, there was always going to be every chance that Good Morning Star would not only stay but also act well in the mud. Despite being the rank outsider, she proved that she does both well with a last-gasp victory in the Cheshire Oaks, defeating the exquisitely-bred Betterbetterbetter by a short-head.
Offered by Rabbah Bloodstock at this year’s February Sale at Tattersalls, her trainer Mark Johnston, who bought her as a yearling for 8,000gns, proved astute in retaining her for 9,000gns, this time for Dr Marwan Koukash, whose love of his local Chester races is renowned.
But it’s not just Koukash who has an affinity for the Roodee, as both Good Morning Star’s Juddmonte-bred dam and grand-dam have lined up for the Cheshire Oaks, with the former, Hollow Ridge, finishing sixth to subsequent Oaks winner Light Shift, while grand-dam Bolas won the race en route to victory in the Ribblesdale Stakes and Irish Oaks.
Hollow Ridge was Listed-placed at two and sold as a three-year-old by Juddmonte Farms at the 2007 December Sale where she was picked up by Wardstown Stud for 33,000gns. Good Morning Star is her first foal and the mare returned to Shirocco the following year, producing a colt.
