Better than scoring, Michael? Ex-Liverpool and England star Owen fist pumps and beams with joy as his horse, Zoffee, wins Chester Cup at 9/1 at a meeting which he treasures the most


  • Michael Owen expressed his joy after Zoffee triumphed in the Chester Cup
  • Former footballer is the owner of Manor House Stables and a racing enthusiast
  • The ex-England striker is always on the lookout for potential success at Chester 

Michael Owen won a Ballon d’Or and a raft of major honours, lit up a World Cup and was recognised as one of English football’s greatest strikers.

Proud of all that he may be but the smile that lit up his face yesterday was comparable with any of the great days during his illustrious career. 

Owen, owner of Manor House Stables and a racing devotee, realised a lifetime ambition when Zoffee won the 200th running of the Chester Cup.

Chester in May is the meeting that consumes Owen. 

He thinks about it constantly, is always on the lookout for horses that have the potential to be successful at the track and everything bore fruit spectacularly here as Zoffee came with a thundering run under young jockey Harry Davies.

Former Liverpool and England star Michael Owen beamed with pride after Zoffee triumphed in the Chester Cup

Former Liverpool and England star Michael Owen beamed with pride after Zoffee triumphed in the Chester Cup

The 44-year-old (second left) posed alongside jockey Harry Davies (third left) after the race

The 44-year-old (second left) posed alongside jockey Harry Davies (third left) after the race

Speaking after the victory Owen described Manor House Stables as his 'pride and joy'

Speaking after the victory Owen described Manor House Stables as his ‘pride and joy’

Zoffee had finished second in the Chester Cup 12 months ago and had a spell over hurdles in the winter but he was prepared meticulously for this historic contest by trainer Hugo Palmer and justified stable confidence, at odds of 9/1.

Owen has shares in many horses at Manor House – one of which, Box To Box, was beaten dramatically in a photo finish in the third race of the day – but doesn’t have anything to do with the ownership of Zoffee, an eight-year-old who belongs to Alan Peterson. None of that mattered.

‘They are all my horses!’ Owen beamed. ‘This is just incredible. Manor House is my pride and joy. I’m taking it step by step to get it to be as big as it can possibly be. 

‘This race has always been the headline. We train speed horses, primarily, and have a real small pool of horse for this event.

‘But Hugo is very good at training staying horses. I said earlier in the week that Zoffee was our big one for the week. I had asked him about our chances and he replied: “We will win the Chester Cup.” I just cannot believe we have done.

‘I throw my heart, my soul, my life into this. When I am not on the TV talking rubbish about football, I spend every second in my stables. I watch every horse, every day, go up the gallops. You can’t understand what this means to me.’



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