Pyledriver (GB) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pyledriver On Track For Hong Kong Bid

Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) will return in the Betway Churchill S. at Lingfield next weekend before an intended start in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase in December. The 4-year-old, who claimed the G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Great Voltigeur S. at three, had an abbreviated two-start campaign this season. Second by 2 1/4 length in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket making his 4-year-old bow, Pyledriver clawed his way to a neck victory in Epsom's G1 Coronation Cup over Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) on June 4. He was due to run in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern on Sunday, but co-trainer William Muir opted for the Lingfield contest instead. After his Asian target, the entire will be aimed at the Saudi Cup meeting at the end of February prior to a Dubai campaign.

Muir said, “We decided after Martin [Dwyer] rode him on Tuesday not to go to Germany. Martin asked what our target was–I told him the Hong Kong Vase, and he said that he'd run well in Germany but he'd come on for the run.

“The train we'd planned to take was cancelled, so we'd have to have gone via ferry and we thought we'd go to Lingfield on Saturday instead. While that is not his ideal trip [10 furlongs], we'll use it as a prep for Hong Kong.

“It's the sort of thing the big trainers do quite often, run them over a trip short of their best so it doesn't push them as much. He'll give everything, as he always does, but Martin felt a run would put him spot on–and he said he's never felt as strong.

“It was only a minor setback he had–we went through the exact programme the vet said, and we've not had a hiccup or anything. But our main target had to be the Hong Kong Vase, and then his winter campaign starts, Saudi in February and then Dubai–three very big races.”

He added, “To have started off throwing him straight back into a Group 1 may have been tough on him. I was also worried about the ground, but in fairness it's good out there. I think he'd have gone close if we'd gone, but Martin just felt he'd come on for a run.

“He's won a Group 1. He's going to be a horse to campaign all around the world now. Had it been a week later, I might have gone to Germany, but I'm looking forward to Lingfield now.”

The post Pyledriver On Track For Hong Kong Bid appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

German Target Possible For Pyledriver

Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who won June's G1 Coronation Cup, is under consideration for the Nov. 7 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich, according to co-trainer William Muir. The 4-year-old entire has been out of action since a minor setback ended planned starts in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot and in York's G1 Juddmonte International S.

“I'll let him tell me when he's ready,” said Muir, who trains with Chris Grassick. “After York I said I wouldn't set more targets and we'd just go easy for 10 days and trot for a couple of weeks. I'm just going to take my time, it's something minor but I want him to heal properly and not have any scars in his mind.

“He's jumping out of his skin at the moment, he's so fresh and well. I would say the first race we could think about looking at is on Nov. 7 which is the last Group 1 in Europe.”

A winner of the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot in 2020, Pyledriver put an 11th-place run in the G1 Derby firmly in the rearview with a win in York's G2 Great Voltigeur S. last August. Third in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on Sept. 12 and seventh in the G1 Champion S., he was second in the G2 Jockey Club S. on May 1 in his first start of 2021.

Muir added of the La Pyle Partnership runner, “I'm not saying we are definitely going, but it's something we could look at before he went to Hong Kong. I just want to give him all the time he needs because we could start him back and if he was still feeling it he would accommodate for it and pick up a problem somewhere else.

“Basically he's in wonderful form, he's like a raging bull, but we're tip-toeing along. He's had his break and then we can see where we go.”

The post German Target Possible For Pyledriver appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pyledriver to Miss King George After Setback

Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) will miss the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. after suffering a setback, but nine still go forward, including the high-class Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Trainer William Muir revealed the news on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast. The G1 Coronation Cup victor sustained an injury to his off hind leg.

Muir told Nick Luck's Daily Podcast, “He worked superb on Saturday, we went to Charlie Hills's and he worked stunning with a very good miler. I walked over to meet him coming back–he was bouncing –washed him down and what have you and all was fine, but that evening I just thought he was slightly wrong behind on his off hind.

“My vet came, his testicle was pulled right up so he thinks he might have rolled in his box and tweaked his groin. Any horse, they are my life, like my children, so I can't run him if he's not 100%.

“He'll be checked over again until we can find exactly what it is, but I told the owners I didn't even think I was going to confirm him which is gutting as he's as well as I could have him. He came off the gallops and I thought nothing could beat him.

Added Muir of other potential targets for his stable star, “There's loads more races–we're in the [G1] Juddmonte [International S. at York on Aug. 18] whatever happens if it's something very simple. We were going to give him a break at some stage as we're thinking of taking him round the world at the back end of the season, so maybe this might be the enforced break. We've got to do whatever is right with every horse we've got.”

Besides Love, seven other Group 1 winners–have stood their ground for the Ascot showpiece, including the 4-year-old filly Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Fr}), as well as G1 Cazoo Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), globetrotters Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), and Galileo full-brothers Mogul (GB) and Japan (GB).

“I talked to John after Mishriff worked on Saturday and John was very happy with him,” said Ted Voute, racing manager for Mishriff's owner Prince Faisal on the $20-million Saudi Cup and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic scorer. “It has very much been left up to John where he runs next and, having discussed it with the Prince, Ascot looks the likely target.

“We want to win a Group 1 in England with Mishriff and you can't win one unless you run in them. He has beaten some very good horses from around the world and now is the time to see what he can do against the big battalions from England and Ireland in particular.”

The post Pyledriver to Miss King George After Setback appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pyledriver to Skip Royal Ascot and Wait For King George

Friday's G1 Coral Coronation Cup victor Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) will most likely remain on the bench during Royal Ascot and will instead target the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 24. The 4-year-old colt was reported to be in good form, if a bit tired by trainer William Muir.

“It took a bit out of him–he didn't eat brilliant for two nights but he licked up last night,” said Muir. “The first night he normally does leave a bit, but the second night he's normally back on it, so it probably took a little bit out of him.

“He's got a Group 1 now, so let's hope we can keep going. Royal Ascot was going to be the next race. But he's going to need to knock the door down for me to be going there– otherwise we'll wait for the King George.

“If he comes mad fresh by Monday when the confirmation stage is, then I'd think about it. But it was quite a battle on Friday. He might just need longer than two weeks to get back to his best. There's no point going there if we're not over this race.”

The post Pyledriver to Skip Royal Ascot and Wait For King George appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post