A courageous win at the Glorious Goodwood carnival has placed Seagulls Eleven firmly in the mix for a trip to Australia to contest the $10 million Golden Eagle. Trainer Hugo Palmer revealed the gelding’s stirring Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes (1609m) victory had heightened plans for an Australian campaign.
Already proven internationally after competing at last year’s Breeders’ Cup, Seagulls Eleven has shown his versatility on all ground types, a factor Palmer believes makes him an ideal candidate for Sydney’s lucrative feature.
“He has taken us on an incredible journey and I don’t think it’s finished yet,” Palmer said. “The Golden Eagle has already been discussed—it’s a $10 million race, something you don’t see in England. We were worried about taking him to the Breeders’ Cup last year as he can be tricky, but he coped with it brilliantly. He’s shown he can perform on any ground.”
Raced by a group of ex-Brighton and Hove Albion players, Seagulls Eleven will likely have one more UK start—potentially in the City Of York or the Celebration Mile—before being prepared for the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 1.
While not yet in early Golden Eagle markets, Chris Waller’s Autumn Glow ($3.50) and Lady Shenandoah ($4.50) currently share favouritism with leading betting sites.