Seagulls Eleven (11/4) could be set for a trip to Australia after making all the running in a tactical renewal of the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.
Hugo Palmer’s son of Galileo Gold was twice placed in Group company last year, including a third in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, and was last seen out finishing second in Newmarket’s Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.
With three rivals in opposition, Oisin Murphy sent Seagulls Eleven into the lead after a furlong. Murphy quickened the tempo approaching the final two furlongs and Seagulls Eleven was never seriously threatened, holding Diego Ventura (5/1) by three quarters of a length.
Palmer said: “I have just about recovered from his dad getting beat in the Sussex Stakes! Ryan Moore came and did us on the line that day with The Ghurka, so to turn the tables with his son is nice.
“We probably over-faced Seagulls Eleven a bit last year – he danced some pretty big dances – but he is a very generous horse and they weren’t getting past him. He is quite a handful and not an easy horse to train – gelding him has made a bit of a difference.
“Plan A was to track Ryan Moore, but Ryan’s horse [King Of Cities] missed the break a bit. We were always quick away and Oisin said that they were walking, so he just went straight to plan B. When Oisin rides for me, I just have such confidence that we’re going to win. That’s nothing against any of the other fantastic jockeys that ride for us, but he just seems to make what can be quite difficult look so simple.
“Seagulls Eleven has taken us all around the world and I don’t think we are done yet. The Golden Eagle in Sydney has already been mentioned and why not? It is a $10m dollar race. Where can you say that in England?
Seagulls Eleven is owned by a group of professional footballers, including James Milner. Palmer added: “It actually all started at Cheltenham. There was a mare called Mrs Milner and Michael [Owen] suggested to James Milner that he back it. He did and it went from there. They have bought a few horses and James is the ringleader. There are 11 players, who aren’t all at Brighton anymore – sadly, half a dozen of them were here yesterday but I think they are in Poland today.
“Maybe we will have one more run [in the UK before Australia]. We could talk about supplementing for the City Of York or maybe the Celebration Mile back here. I haven’t really thought about it.”
Murphy said: “Seagulls Eleven needed gelding and has improved an awful lot for it. He relaxed a little bit more. Hugo trained his father [Galileo Gold] to a Classic victory and the guys at Manor House Stables have done a great job with him every day, because he can be a little bit on his toes. Josh [Jones, lad] knows him inside out.
“He is an athletic, beautiful animal and has a really bright future. It was a shame to see the race cut up to four runners, but they were four good horses. I think he has run to a very high level today.”
Wathnan Racing’s advisor Richard Brown said of Diego Ventura: ‘‘He has arguably run a career-best race. He was just getting going and Oisin has slightly rolled off the rail on the winner and it has cost him a little bit of momentum, but I don’t think it has made a difference to the result. We will talk to Hamad [Al Jehani] and the team, but he is strongest at the line and we will probably try up in trip.’’
King Of Cities’ trainer Richard Hannon said: “He looked like he didn’t help Ryan [Moore] much to me. It was disappointing not being beaten far. There are big races in him, but he looks a bit flat-footed sometimes. Ryan thought it might have helped if he had gone on a bit, but they were probably going a good enough gallop if he wanted to. For me he just does enough.’’
Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year trailed home last, with his jockey Colin Keane reporting: “I would say the ground was a little bit against us. He relaxed and travelled round nicely but, when we needed him, he wasn’t able to, and I didn’t think we got to the line very strong. I would be inclined to come back to seven furlongs. I wouldn’t even rule out a stiff six on nicer ground, where they go hard and you can ride a race on him. Hopefully, he will hit the line better. Today he felt straightforward, it felt like he tried, it just felt like the trip was stretching him.”
-ENDS-
