Seagulls Eleven swooped late to edge a thrilling finish to the Betfred Diomed Stakes at Epsom.
Hugo Palmer’s four-year-old – who is owned by a collection of footballers including the recently-retired James Milner and his former Albion team-mates Danny Welbeck and Lewis Dunk – has shown a liking for an undulating track in the past and was backed into 5-2 favourite prior to the Group Three event following victory in France only 12 days ago.
Oisin Murphy had Seagulls Eleven hot on the heels of the front-running Boiling Point in the early stages and rounding Tattenham Corner, but entering the straight he edged his mount to the front, leading the field towards the stands rail where the telling action would unfold.
Last year’s winner Persica emerged on the scene to put down what looked a winning challenge under Sean Levey, but Seagulls Eleven would not give in and managed to claw back a nose advantage in the final stride.
Palmer said: “I thought we were done, I must admit. Luckily he put his head down where it mattered.
“He’s so tough, him and Oisin get on very well and he said he’s a pleasure to ride these days after all the difficulties earlier in his career. Now it’s exuberance and he’s having fun.
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“I did think Persica was going better but we’ve probably outstayed him. Oisin said he’d get 10 furlongs stood on his head.”
He added: “He ran some big races as a two-year-old and I thought he’d run a big race in the Guineas, but it was all too much for him.
“I think what we have learned is a small field suits him. With that in mind we could go for the Sussex Stakes, but that will be the hottest small field of the season! Races like the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and the Summer Mile at Ascot will be on his agenda.”
