Tag: Pyledriver (GB)

Pyledriver Back With A Win In The Hardwicke

Royal Ascot's G2 Hardwicke S. was missing Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), but it still had Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}–La Pyle (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and the hero of last year's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. copied that Shadwell contemporary in overcoming his own lengthy lengthy lay-off on Saturday. Understandably over-racing in the hands of P J McDonald behind the front-running West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) throughout the early stages, the 7-2 shot who had also won the G2 King Edward VII S. in the COVID year of 2020 here loomed wide on the home turn.

In front a furlong out, the Willie Muir and Chris Grassick-trained 6-year-old ducked left and then right away from his rider's whip and caused significant interference to Changingoftheguard in the closing stages as a result. After an inquiry, the result was left as it was, which was Pyledriver 1 1/4 lengths ahead of TDN Rising Star West Wind Blows with Changingoftheguard a length away in fourth.

 

Easy to write off initially due to his modest connections, Pyledriver has made a point throughout his career of defying the doubters, most notably before the King George in the previous year's G1 Coronation Cup. Also successful in the 2020 G2 Great Voltigeur S., he was third going too far in the G1 St Leger where he veered away from Martin Dwyer's whip and was second in the 2021 G1 Hong Kong Vase and an unlucky loser when fourth in last year's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

This was a momentous comeback marred only by McDonald's snap decision to use the whip in the closing stages, but an emotional Willie Muir was looking only at the positives. “I know how much this horse will improve. Yes he rolled around, but he was on fumes. I knew he was a class horse and I knew he would be competitive–he never knows when to chuck it in, but I did think match-fitness might catch us out. We will see how he is tonight, tomorrow, the next day, but the King George will be next all being well. This is what we dream to have horses like this. The owners were offered fortunes for him as a 3-year-old and they have been so loyal to the horse.”

McDonald added, “When he hits the front, he always runs around and it just goes to show how much ability he has that he's not concentrating on running in a straight line. I haven't sat on this horse since last year's King George and what a performance to get this fella back today. Today was only ever a starting point moving forward to the King George, so to get the win under his belt is a massive bonus. We have a superstar horse, I just need to keep him in a straight line!”

Ed Crisford said of West Wind Blows, “I think there you can say he definitely stays a mile and a half, because there have always been these question marks but he kept running true to the line there. I would say that's his career-best performance and he really showed himself, up against some of the best horses over this trip.”
Changingoftheguard's trainer Aidan O'Brien said, “He ran very well and we are delighted with his run. We will see how he is–obviously he is entered in the King George and all those races.”

Pedigree Notes
Pyledriver is the first foal out of La Pyle, a full-sister to the G3 Park Express S. winner Normandel (Fr) and a half to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}). She is also kin to Lillebonne (Fr) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), the dam of the Listed El Gran Senor S. winner and G2 Kilboy Estate S. runner-up Seisai (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), the Listed Glencairn S. winner Maganimous (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), the G3 Irish St Leger Trial-placed Micro Manage (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and the G2 Debutante S. third Thornbrook (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

La Pyle, whose 3-year-old filly Shagpyle (GB) (Frankel {GB}) looks a decent type who won here on debut last month, is a granddaughter of Lidakiya (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) who produced the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis and G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua-winning sire Linngari (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and is kin to the triple listed scorer and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup runner-up Livadiya (Ire) (Shernazar {Ire}). La Pyle's yearling filly is by Kingman (GB).

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HARDWICKE S.-G2, £250,000, Ascot, 6-24, 4yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:29.60, g/f.
1–PYLEDRIVER (GB), 129, h, 6, by Harbour Watch (Ire)
1st Dam: La Pyle (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lidana (Ire), by King's Best
3rd Dam: Lidakiya (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
(10,000gns RNA Wlg '17 TATFOA). O-La Pyle Partnership; B-Knox & Wells Ltd & R Devlin (GB); T-William Muir & Chris Grassick; J-P J McDonald. £141,775. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng & G1SP-HK, 19-8-4-1, $2,562,866. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–West Wind Blows (Ire), 129, g, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–West Wind (GB), by Machiavellian. O-Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £53,750.
3–Changingoftheguard (Ire), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Lady Lara (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £26,900.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, HF. Odds: 3.50, 6.50, 7.00.
Also Ran: Deauville Legend (Ire), Free Wind (Ire), Grand Alliance (Ire), Ardakan (GB). Scratched: Hukum (Ire).

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Summer Targets For Pyledriver Revealed

Multiple Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) will make his long-awaited return in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot in June, according to Chris Grassick, who trains with William Muir.

A winner of the 2021 G1 Coronation Cup and 2022 G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S., the 6-year-old entire races for the La Pyle Partnership. Various setbacks have kept Pyledriver away from the races after his King George victory last July.

Grassick said, “He's cantering back and William has done the entry for the Hardwicke, so that's the plan. Touch wood, everything is looking lovely, he looks great and strong.

“I think from there we would be going to the King George and after that it would be just how he comes out of each race. He remains in good form and hopefully if he remains as good as last year, then we will have a big year again.

“He's slowly becoming a bit of a fan favourite. He's developing a bit of a following now because he comes back year in, year out, so hopefully he can keep going and get the results he deserves both for himself and the owners.”

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Pair Of Group 1 Winners Nominated To Winter Derby

Group 1 winners Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) are two of the 16 nominations for the Feb. 25 £100,000 G3 BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield.

Last seen winning the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., the William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained 6-year-old has been on the bench since that victory. He claimed the 2021 Listed Churchill S. over 10 furlongs at that track, defeating fellow Winter Derby entry Harrovian (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).

John and Thady Gosden's Lord North was runner-up in the 2022 Winter Derby to Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}). He then tied with Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Turf in March, before running off-the-board in a trio of Group 1s–the Tattersalls Gold Cup (fourth to Alenquer), the Prince Of Wales's S. (fifth to State Of Rest {Ire} {Starspangledbanner [Aus]}), and the Eclipse S. at Sandown in July, where he was fourth to Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}).

Another signed on for the Winter Derby is Charlie Johnston's Living Legend (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who won the G2 Jockey Club S. in 2022. He was most recently second in the G2 Princess Of Wales's S. in July.

Trainer Charlie Johnston said, “We have given Living Legend a BetUK Winter Derby entry and he has also been nominated for the Amir Trophy in Qatar, which takes place the week before.

“Plans are fluid at the moment. We would ultimately love to take him back to Newcastle for the Easter Classic, although with the way the programme book has fallen this year, it is going to make it difficult to qualify unless we win the Winter Derby.

“The Magnolia S. and Finals Day were three weeks apart last year, whereas this year it is only a six-day gap due to Easter falling earlier, which makes having three qualifying runs very difficult.

“There is plenty to think about and we will decide whether we go for the Winter Derby or take up the Qatar option nearer the time.”

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King George Hero Pyledriver Aiming At Sheema Classic As He Returns To Full Work

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has returned to full work and will take another crack at the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, according to co-trainer William Muir, who trains with Chris Grassick.

The 5-year-old entire took the G1 Coronation Cup last year, and was fourth in the Sheema Classic this March. Second in defence of his Coronation Cup back at Epsom in June, he was last seen taking the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. by 2 3/4 lengths at Ascot on July 23.

Injury ruled out the bay from contesting the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as trips to the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland and the Longines Hong Kong International Races in October, November and December, respectively.

Muir said, “He's back on track now and we're starting to get him ready for his Sheema Classic run. He started cantering back last week, he's moving beautifully and looks a million dollars.

“It's quite exciting to see him back up on the gallop as you know you've got another good one out there. He looks fantastic.

“I was gutted to miss those big races, but we had to do what was right for him and in the end we found he had something deep seated in his foot, which has now come out and everything is fine.”

Dubai will likely not be Pyledriver's 6-year-old bow, as Muir and Grassick are mulling starts over the all-weather.

“There's a possibility we could run in the Winter Derby Trial or the Winter Derby, depending how he comes,” Muir added. “I wouldn't set that in stone, but it's in the back of my mind.

“I know the Lingfield races are a mile and a quarter, but if he ran in one of those it wouldn't be the be all and end all–it would be more of a prep run before he goes to Dubai.”

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