BRIGHTON players including Premier League legend James Milner are a step closer to winning MILLIONS with their superstar horse Seagulls Eleven.
Together they have stumped up £40,000 to supplement the horse into Saturday’s Group 1 City Of York Stakes.
GettyBrighton players are dreaming of winning millions with their superstar horse Seagulls Eleven – who has been supplemented into the City Of York Stakes on Saturday at a big cost of £40,000[/caption]
GettyPremier League legend James Milner is one of the past and present Brighton players involved in Seagulls Eleven[/caption]
The mega-money race, worth £377,000 to the winner, is one of the biggest in Ebor week at the northern track with decent prize money all the way down to sixth.
Seagulls Eleven, a three-year-old gelding trained by Hugo Palmer who cost around £50,000, has won two of his ten career races, bringing in just shy of £170,000.
But his next few races could send his winnings into the stratosphere.
Seagulls Eleven, who won more than £57,000 with his most recent victory, a Group 3 at Goodwood earlier this month, is one of 13 in the City Of York.
He is likely to face Group 1 scorer Rosallion and 150-1 record winner Qirat, who returns after his unbelievable Sussex Stakes victory.
Big names including John & Thady Gosden’s former Lockinge winner Audience and Juddmonte’s Cosmic Year are also in the line-up.
But the races under a mile have been a lottery this season so anything could happen when they jump out this weekend.
And while the cheque on offer at York is massive – far, far greater riches could lie in wait later this year.
After his Goodwood win, Palmer said the £7.4million Golden Eagle in Australia in November was on the agenda.
Interestingly, Brighton owner Tony Bloom won the race last year with Lake Forest and walked off an incredible £2.8m richer.
Palmer said after Seagulls Eleven won at Goodwood that he would likely be supplemented for the City Of York.
And the plan then would be, rather than race at Doncaster and Ascot later this year, to enter quarantine ahead of a trip Down Under.
Speaking of how it all came about, Palmer, who trains football legend Michael Owen’s horses, said: “It actually all started at Cheltenham.
“There was a mare called Mrs Milner and Michael suggested to James Milner that he back it.
“He did and it went from there.
“They’ve bought a few horses and James is the ringleader. There are eleven players, who aren’t all at Brighton anymore.”
Goalkeeper Jason Steele is another involved with Seagulls Eleven – and he can’t wait to see what the future holds.
He said: “It is up to Hugo and the team at Manor House Stables if he goes out to Australia, but the thought of him running there is amazing.
“We have briefly spoken about it in our group chat and Hugo is going to find out more and whatever they want to do, I imagine the lads will support it.
“We have a lot of ties with the Golden Eagle with our chairman Tony Bloom winning it last year with Lake Forest.
“That would be a nice story to go over there and follow that up.
“To say we have owned a horse that has already run at the Curragh, and in America, and potentially Australia is unbelievable.”
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