Brighton Stars Chasing A Classic Dream

Features | 3rd May 2025

Brighton and Hove Albion footballers know what it takes to beat some of the best players in the world week in, week out, and they’re hoping to be a top team again when they step into racing’s own Premier League today.

Brighton and Hove Albion footballers know what it takes to beat some of the best players in the world week in, week out, and they’re hoping to be a top team again when they step into racing’s own Premier League next month. 

Seagulls Eleven, who is owned by their syndicate Two Plus Three Two Plus Four, will take his chance in the first British Classic of the new season, the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, 3rd May. 

The Hugo Palmer-trained colt has been confirmed for the famous three-year-old race following a racecourse gallop on the Rowley Mile last week that has got his star owners feeling “bullish” about their prospects. 

“He’s coming into the race from under the radar but we all feel he has the ability to be thereabouts,” says goalkeeper Jason Steele, who shares the son of Palmer’s own Guineas winner Galileo Gold with 10 other players. 

“We’re so excited. It’s all we talk about when we’ve finished training. We’re so proud of the horse and to be taking on all racing’s big names will be just incredible.”

Steele, who was at Newmarket to watch the horse being put through his paces, adds: “He went about his work very professionally. He seems to have a certain presence, like he knows exactly what his job is, and seems bigger and stronger now. 

“We’re very realistic about our prospects and how tough it is to win a Classic, but we’re bullish. We all believe he has the talent to run a massive race after doing so well as a two-year-old.” 

A 50,000gns purchase, Seagulls Eleven won a novice stakes on his second start at Haydock Park in June before finishing second to Ancient Truth in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival, with subsequent Royal Lodge winner Wimbledon Hawkeye behind.  

Stepping into Group 1 company, the colt then gave his owners another cause for celebration when finishing third in the National Stakes at The Curragh in September and wasn’t disgraced in the Dewhurst before carrying the syndicate’s blue and white stripes in the Juvenile Turf at the Breeders’ Cup.

 

“His form was rock solid going into the Dewhurst, which turned into a messy kind of race, and although we were just thrilled to send him to Del Mar he didn’t really get the clearest of runs and we were happy that he came back safe and sound,” adds Steele. 

Due to football commitments, none of the colt’s proud owners will be at Newmarket to see him run but needless to say they will all be glued to the TV screen. “Unfortunately we’ll be preparing to play Newcastle the following day but we will be represented by family and friends. 

“It’s frustrating but none of us have been at the races to see him run yet. It just hasn’t worked out with our busy schedules, but if everything goes well we may end up at Royal Ascot in June which would be something special to look forward to,” he says. 

Jason Milner persuaded his team mates – including captain Lewis Dunk, striker Danny Welbeck and Dutch star Jan Paul van Hecke – to buy a horse at the yearling sales in 2023 when Two Plus Three Two Plus Four was formed. “We all put some money in the pot and came back with not one but three horses,” laughs Steele. 

“Seagulls Eleven has turned out to be the best but we’ve been very lucky as both The Flying Seagull and Seagolazo have been stars in their own right at Hugo’s Manor House Stables, so we’re absolutely buzzing.”

 

The Flying Seagull was a close second in a valuable handicap on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield Park on Good Friday while Havana Grey gelding Seagolazo landed a Chester maiden on his way to achieving an official rating of 96. 

Several of the original syndicate have since left Brighton. Pascal Gross is with Dortmund in Germany, Billy Gilmour plays in Italy for Napoli while Adam Lallana and Shane Duffy are at Southampton and Norwich respectively, but all continue to take a keen interest. 

“All the boys enjoy being updated on all the horses and the training process,” adds Steele. “To play in the Premier League you have to have a certain mentality in preparing for games and getting a top racehorse in peak condition is similar in many ways. 

“Hugo and (former football star) Michael Owen, who owns the stables, are great at answering all our questions and keeping us informed. We’ve been over to see the horses and it’s an amazing experience. We’re gutted we can’t all be there on the big day but we’ll be shouting him home. With some of the boys now playing overseas the interest in our horse has gone international.” 

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