Sky Bet City Of York: Palmer full of confidence in Seagulls Eleven

Hugo Palmer is confident Seagulls Eleven will vindicate his famous connections decision to part ways with £40,000 to supplement him for the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes. 

The Galileo Gold gelding, who is owned by the Two Plus Three Two Plus Four syndicate which consists of 11 past and present players from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, was added to the field for the Group One on Monday, alongside shock Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes winner Qirat. Rosallion heads the market at 7-4, with Seagulls Eleven a best-priced 20-1.

Although failing to feature on his previous Group One start in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, Seagulls Eleven has since slowly worked his way back to form culminating in victory last time out in the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood. 

And Palmer feels the confidence that the three-year-old gained from that victory will stand him in good stead for his return to the top table on the Knavesmire.  

Palmer said: “The complexion of the race has changed a little bit with Richard Hannon bringing Rosallion to the race. He is a very good horse, but Rosallion aside, the race was looking like falling apart a bit. 

“We don’t have to protect our horse as he doesn’t have stallion value. I said to the guys shall we give it a thought and they would like to run so we are going for it. They are very enthusiastic about giving it a go. 

“He has come out of Goodwood really well and we have freshened him up. He looks great. The win last time out at Goodwood seems to have given him a bit of belief which will help him here."

The last time Seagulls Eleven appeared over seven furlongs he finished a creditable sixth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, which was his first start since being gelded. 

And although he has been campaigned over a mile on his last two outings Palmer believes the way the race is likely to be run will bring his assured stamina into play over a trip he could be campaigned over for the remainder of the domestic campaign. 

He added: “Goodwood is a pretty sharp mile and with Audience, Qirat and Quinault in there we know there is going to be a strong pace which is likely to bring our stamina into play. 

“The other option was the Celebration Mile, which he also needed supplementing for, so we might as well have a go at the Group One. 

“He is in the Park Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster after this, which is an option, and there is also the Joel Stakes back over a mile at Newmarket, but given how he has run before on the Rowley Mile I’m not so sure about that.”

Following his last time out success it was mentioned that a trip to Australia to tackle the $10 million dollar Golden Eagle at Randwick on November 1st could be an end of year target. 

And having discussed the race, which was won last year at Rosehill by Lake Forest, who is owned in partnership by Albion owner Tony Bloom with Ian McAleavy, with Seagull Eleven’s well-known connections Palmer insists a trip Down Under is very much on the agenda. 

Palmer added: “Hopefully he is going to go to Australia for the Golden Eagle. If he ends up having another run here and one in September he can then go straight there in November. 

“It is a huge amount of money to run in it, but everyone involved is pretty keen to go. 

“He needs to get an invite, but hopefully he will do as Lake Forest won it off 109 which he is rated now.”