Fancy owning a stake in Preston? Breeders of a two-year-old filly are betting there will be a lot of interest in the fledgling racehorse, named after England's newest city.

Preston, stable named May, was given the city's name by owner and breeder, Stella Barclay, of The Paddock, Strickens Lane, Barnacre, near Garstang, where the horse was born and bred.

A syndicate is being set up to own and race the horse, which is being trained in Formby and there are a handful of five per cent shares still up for grabs for people who fancy owning their own piece of Preston.

The 15.2 hands horse -- which has a three-year-old brother called Garstang, named after the picture-postcard village near Preston -- is expected to make its racecourse debut in a couple of months and Stella is hopeful she will help put the city on the racing map.

"Garstang has attracted a lot of interest in the area and so when it came to naming his sister I felt Preston would be a fitting name for a racy looking filly," said Stella.

Although Preston is believed to be the first horse named after the city, it is not the first time Preston has been used in a name. A Celebrity Big Brother housemate was called Preston and it is the middle name of pop princess, Britney Spears', four-month-old son.

But Stella -- who has enjoyed plenty of success on the racetrack since buying her first racehorse, No Comebacks, in the late 1980s -- is hoping 'her' Preston will be as successful as other horses she has bred.

No Comebacks won seven races and has now bred the winners of 21 races through the exploits of Steely Dan, which has triumphed in ten races, and New Options, which has won 11 times.

Garstang, owned by a syndicate of 20 racing enthusiasts, is on track for success during the remainder of the 2006 flat season after winning a six furlong Handicap on his last start at Wolverhampton in February and over five furlongs at Musselburgh, in June.

Each five per cent share in Preston costs £395, including insurance, training fees and racing expenses, then £70 per month therafter. For details call 01995 605790.