Seagulls Eleven to target the $10 million Golden Eagle with English Premier League stars in the ownership
Seagulls Eleven could be set to follow in the footsteps of 2024 Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest and head 'down under' in pursuit of the world's richest race for four-year-olds.
The horse's name is a nod to Brighton Hove Albion, which are nicknamed The Seagulls and finished eighth in last year's Premier League.
A host of Brighton players both past and present are involved in the horse, including English internationals James Milner, Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana.
Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen is also involved and is no stranger to bringing horses to Australia as an owner of ex-Melbourne Cup contender Brown Panther, which finished eighth in the famous two-mile race in 2013.
Seagulls Eleven, wearing the blue and white colours of Brighton, is trained by English-based horseman Hugo Palmer and put a trip to Australia on the agenda with victory in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes (1609m) at the Glorious Goodwood carnival on Friday.
A win for the seagulls! 🰽
Seagulls Eleven, owned by some @OfficialBHAFC players, wins a messy edition of the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes for team @hpalmerracing and @themichaelowen.
🟦⬜� pic.twitter.com/R3L1sIl4cz
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 1, 2025
'He's taken us all around the world and I don't think we're done yet,' Palmer told the Racing Post.
'The Golden Eagle in Sydney has already been mentioned and why not? It's a $10 million race. Where can you say that in England?'
Seagulls Eleven could have one more start in England in the City Of York Stakes before he would need to enter quarantine to head to Australia for the Golden Eagle on November 1 at Rosehill Gardens.
Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani was in the UK for the Glorious Goodwood and spoke to multiple stables about the prospect of heading to Sydney for the spring carnival.
'There has certainly been a lot of interest in Australian racing with horses from multiple yards interested in coming down,' Ramdhani said.
'Seagulls Eleven is one, Charlie Fellowes has a horse called Luther that ran at Saratoga on Friday and he's interested and of course William Haggas has a few potential horses.'
Ramdhani will also spend time talking to stables in Japan on his way back to Australia.
TAB have installed Seagulls Eleven as a $26 elect for the Golden Eagle with Chris Waller's star mares Autumn Glow ($3.50) and Lady Shenandoah ($4.50) heading betting for Sydney's second richest race.
Haggas also has his sights set on the $500,000 Group 3 St Leger (2600m) on The Everest Day for staying talent Sam Hawkens.
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