Pyledriver’s ‘Unbelievable’ Progression Has Value Purchase In Top Form For St. Leger

Martin Dwyer and his father-in-law, William Muir, believe Pyledriver has all the attributes needed to provide them with a fairytale triumph in the £350,000 (about US$414,000) Pertemps St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

The final Classic of the year, first run in 1776 and part of the QIPCO British Champions Series, has attracted a final field of 12. It features three challengers from the yard of serial Irish Champion Trainer, Aidan O'Brien, who is seeking a 39th British Classic success and has already landed this year's Investec Derby, Investec Oaks and QIPCO 1000 Guineas.

O'Brien's principal challenger, Santiago, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner, will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, whose tally of 258 Group 1 triumphs includes six St Leger victories. By contrast, Muir is still searching for his first win at the highest level, having been training a similar amount of time as O'Brien, while Dwyer's last Group 1 victory in Britain was 14 years ago aboard Sir Percy in the 2006 Derby.

Dwyer, 45, said: “If I'm totally honest, for the last four or five years I thought my days of riding horses as good as Pyledriver were gone. To get another bite at the cherry is fantastic and hopefully I can make it count. They've all got me to beat. Touch wood, if things go well he will win.

“He's definitely up there among the best horses I've ridden. He's been a bit of a slow-burner but his progression has been unbelievable. William and his team have done a tremendous job.”

Pyledriver has been known by those closest to him as “Dave” from the day he was foaled and is owned by brothers Guy and Huw Leach, plus their long-time friend Roger Devlin. He changed hands for only 10,000gns as a yearling; something Muir puts down to his sire [Harbour Watch] becoming unfashionable. He sees parallels in his own Lambourn yard, where 26 horses reside.

“It's all fashion, nobody even looked at him – and he's gorgeous to look at with a great stride,” Muir said. “We're not a fashionable yard, everyone wants somebody younger. It's just one of those things. If this horse could go and win on Saturday it would be fantastic for the whole team and everyone around it.”

Pyledriver announced himself on the big stage when an emphatic winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and put a luckless run in the Investec Derby behind him when a commanding winner of the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month, when conceding 3lb to each of his seven rivals.

Dwyer said: “He surprised me a bit at Ascot with how easily he won but even there he was like a teenager and now he's become a man. He destroyed the field at York and has just flourished all year.

“It's a great story, this year more than ever because it's been difficult times. Over the past five to ten years all the good horses have seemed to be in the same hands. It's got harder and harder. He's shown you can have a horse for £10,000 and compete at the top level – the dream is alive. It's just what racing has needed at this time.”

Big-money offers for Pyledriver, exceeding seven figures, have been rejected. Muir said: “If the offers had been accepted I don't think he would have stayed in this country – places like Australia and Hong Kong wanted him really badly. If one person had owned him, you couldn't have said no to the kind of offers we got – it was life-changing money – but there's three of them, and they wanted to keep him.”

Pyledriver's stamina is untested beyond a mile and a half but Dwyer said: “He wasn't stopping at York. He hit the line strong and I don't think it [the trip] will be a problem. He's got gears and the speed for a mile and a quarter but as long as he relaxes, as he does, then I don't think it will be an issue.”

Muir accepts his pedigree gives mixed messages but says: “Do I think he will stay? Yes, as I think he has the right attitude. He's got such a relaxed way about him. I'm in a good place because the owners have said 'what's the worst thing that can happen? If we get beat we can come back in trip.' It's a horse race, he's in fantastic form and if he stays he will be very hard to beat.”

Pyledriver will stay in training next year and Muir says his final run of this season will be in the QIPCO Champion Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 17.

Santiago won the Irish Derby just eight days after landing the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot at the main expense of Berkshire Rocco. On his latest start, he finished third to Stradivarius in the Qatar Goodwood Cup when things did not go quite to plan.

O'Brien said: “Goodwood didn't work as we would have liked. We usually like to take our time on him but he hit the gates on Ryan [Moore] and he couldn't really get him back. He was sitting in that second position and Ryan felt he was probably in a gear too high all the way. Because of that he went from travelling very well to having to drop him and ask him to go and race very quick. He really didn't get his breath to go again.

“We had to give him a little bit of an easy time after it because obviously when things don't go smooth for a horse they usually have a harder race but he seems in good form again.”

O'Brien and Dettori have teamed up for St Leger glory once before, striking with front-running Scorpion in 2005. The prospect of Dwyer and Dettori fighting out the finish on the market leaders is quite something and Dwyer said: “We've been friends for many years and I've always looked up to him. Frankie's a superstar and riding better than ever. It's a joy to watch him and I've learnt lots from him over the years. His positioning is just unbelievable and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. That's what wins big races.”

O'Brien also runs Dawn Patrol, who was third in the Irish Derby, and Mythical while his son, Joseph, will field the progressive Galileo Chrome, who has won each of his three starts this year. There is one other Irish challenger in the shape of the Andrew Slattery-trained Sunchart.

Owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum is enjoying a fabulous year but his silks have never been carried to victory in the St Leger. He bids to put that right with the Owen Burrows-trained Hukum, who won the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot on his return before following up in the Group 3 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

Front-running Subjectivist lines up on the back of a 15-length romp in the Group 3 Ladbrokes March Stakes at Goodwood. He had previously finished third in the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at the same venue, with English King behind in fourth. English King had previously been a landing fancy for the Investec Derby, at Epsom, where he finished a staying-on fifth, with Mohican Heights, absent since, back in twelfth. Ed Walker, the trainer of English King, has said his colt remains more likely to run in France on Sunday.

The field is completed by the Richard Spencer-trained Tyson Fury, who belied odds of 20/1 when winning a novice stakes on his debut over 1m4f at Doncaster in early July.

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A £10,000 RNA, Royal Ascot Winner Pyledriver Continues Fairytale Season In Saturday’s Investec Derby

Pyledriver surprised bettors with a $41.80 upset in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes on opening day at Royal Ascot, defeating Mohican Heights (David Simcock) and the highly-regarded Aidan O'Brien trainee Mogul. Now, Pyledriver will try to continue his fairytale campaign in Saturday's Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom.

The Harbour Watch colt was a £10,000 (US$14,006) RNA at the 2017 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, and his trio of breeders, Guy and Hugh Leach and Roger Devlin, decided to keep him in training with William Muir.

Pyledriver rewarded that faith with a win in a listed stakes race as a juvenile, and the colt began his 2020 season with a staying-on second behind Berlin Tango in the G3 Classic Trial at Kempton Park on June 3.

The June 16 King Edward victory was especially sweet for Muir, whose only previous winner at the Royal Meeting had been 18 years prior when Zargus landed the Balmoral Handicap. It was also the eighth Royal win for his jockey, Martin Dwyer, who is Muir's son in law.

Dwyer won the Derby in 2006 aboard Sir Percy, so his experience and the colt's penchant for wet ground could lead to an upset on Saturday.

“We could not have been happier with Pyledriver at Ascot and he has come out of the race really well,” Muir said. “I said from Ascot that he had to come right back to his best at home [if he is to run at Epsom]. That includes putting weight on and he has done that.

“We thought Pyledriver was a good horse at the beginning of the year, although because of the season and how it has turned out, we are able to have an Investec Derby runner, something which might not have happened in an ordinary year because he would have to have been supplemented.

“Martin [Dwyer, jockey] will have a sit on him again on Tuesday morning, but he will just have a normal routine between now and the race. He is fit and healthy, and we will just keep him right.

“There are one or two very strong horses in the Derby, but he has not done anything wrong. His time was good at Royal Ascot and he has come out of the race well. Everybody is excited, and we are really looking forward to it.”

Bookmakers have Pyledriver sixth in the Derby betting at 16-1 thus far.

“I'm realistic on the chance,” co-owner Guy Leach told The Guardian. “There's obviously a lot of other good horses. But we're just delighted to be there and he just keeps surpassing all expectations. You just hope he gets a clean run.”

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Classic Winner Kameko Tops 17 Early Entrants For Saturday’s Investec Derby

QIPCO 2,000 Guineas hero Kameko was the headline act amongst the 17 entries submitted Monday for Saturday's Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom, as he seeks to double up his Classic success.

The son of Kitten's Joy will be partnered by regular rider Oisin Murphy for trainer Andrew Balding.

The pair look to face a stiff challenge, most notably from impressive Lingfield Derby-trial winner English King, who will be the mount of Frankie Dettori. He won't be the only threat, however.

As is customary, Aidan O'Brien has entered a sizeable raiding team from Ireland including Mogul, Vatican City and Royal Ascot hero Russian Emperor. It will be fascinating to see which mount their number one rider Ryan Moore will be on board, and Saturday's impressive nine-length maiden winner Serpentine is among the possibilities.

Fairy-tale entrant Pyledriver will aim to complete his own Cinderella story; having been unsold at 10,000 guineas at the sales as a 2-year-old, before winning at Royal Ascot a fortnight ago. Veteran rider Martin Dwyer partners him, and will be looking to emulate his win in the race 14 years ago aboard Sir Percy.

Amhran Na Bhfiann, Armory, Emissary, Gold Maze, Highland Chief, Khalifa Set, Max Vega, Mohican Heights, Mythical, Serpentine and Worthily complete the entries.

In the Investec Oaks Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand with four entrants – Peaceful, Passion, Ennistymon and most notably QIPCO 1000 Guineas heroine Love.

She could face up to 10 rivals, with hugely impressive Ribblesdale Stakes winner Frankly Darling appearing the most dangerous contender; especially as she's being handled by the red-hot Frankie Dettori and John Gosden partnership.

Bharani Star, Dubai Love, Gold Wand, Oriental Mystique, Queen Daenerys and Tiempo Vuela make up the other entries.

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Driving On With The Derby Dream

There are countless ways in which the Coronavirus pandemic has had a negative impact on the world at large and our smaller racing world within, but every now and then a positive aspect will emerge.

In the case of Tuesday’s G2 King Edward VII S. winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), the adjustments to this season’s racing programme may well have played into the hands of his connections when it comes to having a crack at the Derby, a race now being given serious consideration following the colt’s authoritative victory at Royal Ascot.

Odds of 18/1 in a six-runner field which included two Aidan O’Brien runners—one of those being the 3.4 million gns yearling purchase Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire})—give an indication of the wider view of Pyledriver’s chances but his trainer William Muir arrived at Ascot full of confidence.

“He didn’t take me by surprise,” said Muir on Wednesday morning, admitting that he felt “jetlagged” after enjoying his most high-profile victory to date with a horse ridden by his son-in-law Martin Dwyer and for loyal owners racing their first homebred.

“When we first went to Salisbury, I said to his owners that he showed plenty of natural talent but that he was still a baby. We all had £20 on him each-way that day at 50/1 and what a night we had. We knew then that we had ability.”

After breaking his maiden in July, Pyledriver later won the listed Ascendant S. over a mile at Salisbury, but was last of the seven runners in the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S., a performance his trainer puts down to him still being on the weak side at two.

He said, “He had a really long break and when he came back he was just doing things so well. All our plans had gone out of the window. If there had been no Covid-19 we would have gone to the Craven and seen how he did there, and if he had run well, he would have gone to Ireland for the Guineas. There were also a few races in France, but how things have worked out now is unbelievable.”

It is certainly a near-unbelievable start for Pyledriver’s trio of owner-breeders Roger Devlin and brothers Guy and Hugh Leach. Along with two other friends, they bought his dam, the dual French Flat winner La Pyle (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), with the intention of continuing her career in the National Hunt sphere. It’s safe to say that their ambitions for the 9-year-old mare have now been significantly adjusted. After five underwhelming starts over hurdles for Philip Hobbs, La Pyle was retired to stud. Two of her owners dropped out of the partnership and the others opted to try their hand for the first time as breeders. With the help of another mutual friend and long-time owner with Muir, the late Kevin Mercer, La Pyle joined the Mercer family’s Usk Valley Stud as a boarder.

“Kevin Mercer was an absolute superstar, I can’t say enough about him and his wife Sue. It was an honour and a pleasure to have been a friend of his and I really wish he were still here to see this,” said Muir. “It was Kevin’s idea to go to Harbour Watch at Tweenhills to get her started.”

Before long, La Pyle’s pedigree received two good updates, with her half-brother Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}) winning the G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris in the year in which Pyledriver was conceived. The following year her full-sister Normandel (Fr) won the listed Prix Melisande for their breeder Gerard Augustin-Normand before switching to the ownership of Ballylinch Stud and winning the G3 Park Express S. in Ireland.

“Then people started ringing up offering quite big money for La Pyle,” said Muir. “And the offers kept getting bigger but they decided to keep going with her because there were three of them involved. Then this lad came along and Kevin suggested they offer him in the foal sale just to see what he would make. They thought if he sold well they could put the money into the next one, because by then the mare was in foal to New Approach (GB).”

At Tattersalls, however, it wasn’t simply a case of the colt not making his 10,000gns reserve. By that stage his sire was out of favour with buyers, and even as a first foal from a winning sister to a stakes winner with Group 1 winners under the second and third dams, there was no bid for Pyledriver. Now, less than three years later, he stands on the cusp of lining up at Epsom for the breeders who kept faith in him and who also have his 2-year-old half-sister in training with Muir. Furthermore, La Pyle has a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB), a filly foal by Frankel (GB) and is now in foal to Kingman (GB).

“We will give the Derby serious thought,” said Muir. “We’ll see how the horse comes out of [Tuesday’s race].  I thought Ascot was going to come a bit quick for a horse like this but he put his weight back on very quickly after Kempton. In fact he didn’t just put it back on, he put more on. I weighed him yesterday morning and he went to the races nine kilos heavier than he was at Kempton.”

He continued, “I went to Ascot yesterday and I thought I could have two winners. Of course we didn’t know how good Aidan’s two horses were: on their pedigree and form and the way people were talking they looked pretty good, but I knew I would beat the English. He’s really stepping up to the mark now.”

Muir’s first runner at Ascot this week, Jack’s Point (GB) (Slade Power {Ire}), was runner-up in the opening race, the Buckingham Palace H., and he will bid to go one better when he returns on Saturday for the Wokingham S. Pyledriver also appears to have come out of his race well.

Muir confirmed, “He’s absolutely brilliant. He’s a great moving horse and he trotted up fantastically. He only left a small handful [of feed], which was really good, so he’s in perfect shape. I’ll monitor him over the next few days and see how he goes, and if he’s right the Derby will be the next port of call.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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