By Tom Frary
In the midst of some predictable results on Royal Ascot's opener, there was the shock of a hammer blow to some big reputations as the 18-1 shot Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) took the G2 King Edward VII S. without any hint of fluke. Largely disregarded despite flashing talent at two and when runner-up in the June 3 G3 Classic Trial at Kempton, Guy and Hugh Leach and Roger Devlin's bay was also low-profile in the race itself, anchored towards the rear early by Martin Dwyer along with the 10-11 favourite and TDN Rising Star Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the 4-1 second favourite Mohican Heights (Ire) (Australia {GB}). While eyes were fixed on that pair, it was the Willie Muir trainee who was sneaking up the rail and into contention as the strong pace began to tell on the leader Sound of Cannons (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Slicing between that tiring front-runner and Ballydoyle's second-string Arthur's Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) approaching two out, Pyledriver kept the latter at bay for a two-length verdict as Mohican Heights stayed on into third the same margin away.
Muir, who had saddled the 66-1 runner-up Jack's Point (GB) (Slade Power {Ire}) in the opening Buckingham Palace H., was pinching himself afterwards. “I dreamt last night I had two winners, so a second and a first I can live with,” he said. “On day one this horse was a big price and I remember saying to the owners that if he was by Frankel he'd be favourite, as he's gorgeous. He's a big, weak baby and he's got lots to come. The owners got offered masses for this horse and said they weren't interested–they said we could come here and go for the Derby and I said he can't do the two because he is big and weak, but in the last few days he's come alive. He's done that, so I'm not going to say he can't go to the Derby. We are at a different level to some trainer, but we're all trying to get here.”
Successful at 50-1 on debut at Salisbury in July, Pyledriver was only fourth in the seven-furlong Listed Washington Singer S. at Newbury the following month but with that lesson under his belt came back stronger to beat Sound of Cannons in the Listed Ascendant S. over a mile on soft ground at Haydock in September. Last of seven in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket later that month, he was 40-1 when second to Berlin Tango (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the re-routed Classic Trial over a mile and a quarter with the likes of Max Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Born With Pride (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) behind. Now proven at this trip, he is likely to make his historic bid as the first King Edward VII winner to head to the Derby.
If committed to the July 4 blue riband, he will be aided by the 2006 Derby-winning jockey and Dwyer was keen for the opportunity in the immediate aftermath. “He's got a progressive profile and has done everything right there–he settled well and showed a good turn of foot to win going away,” he said. “There is more improvement in him and, fair play to Willie, he's said all year that he's going to win a big one with this horse. He ran in the Royal Lodge last year, but it was like Bambi on ice as he was all legs that day. I probably hit the front too soon, but he was just a bit lazy and when the runner-up was coming, he did go again. They are really good attributes. I don't get the rides I used to and when you get them you have to make it count. This is a tricky contest, so I was watching videos to get it right in my head. Even though I've ridden here for 20 years, these mile-and-a-half races are so tactically-run you need to be so switched on.”
Muir is tempted by the prospect. “I suppose we will have to think about the Derby,” he added. “I thought we would run a big race, but there were one or two horses in here that were well-touted, well-talked about. Aidan O'Brien said that Mogul was probably his best Derby hope. He is such an athletic, nimble, easy mover. You can never say that a horse will handle Epsom, but this horse has such a balanced way about him, I think he probably would. The owners have got the mare, we've got a New Approach two-year-old, she's beautiful, going really nice, just gently until the back-end, we've got an Oasis Dream yearling coming through and a Frankel filly foal on the ground which is stunning. And the mare is in foal to Kingman, so we've got enough to come. I might have to keep on training now!”
Part-owner Guy Leach said of the homebred, who was led out unsold at 10,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, “We are in Wales and not allowed to travel more than five miles, it is all very different, but I will still enjoy the night with a glass and watch the race over and over again. We must remember we would have never have been in the Derby in a normal year and we would never have supplemented him. If the horse is well enough, I am sure we'll take our chance.”
Looking to upstage this year's G1 Stewards' Cup winner Waikuku (Ire) as the best progeny so far by Tweenhills' resident Harbour Watch (Ire), Pyledriver is the first foal out of 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}). The third dam Lidakiya (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) was responsible for Linngari (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who captured the G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis. As outlined by the trainer, the 2-year-old filly by New Approach (Ire) is joined by a yearling son of Oasis Dream (GB), a foal daughter of Frankel (GB).
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £110,000, Ascot, 6-16, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:32.21, g/s.
1–PYLEDRIVER (GB), 126, c, 3, 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)
1ST GROUP WIN. (10,000gns RNA Wlg '17 TATFOA). O/B-Knox & Wells Ltd & R W Devlin (GB); T-William Muir; J-Martin Dwyer. £65,120. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $118,953. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Arthur's Kingdom (Ire), 126, c, 3, Camelot%20(GB)#tot">Camelot (GB)–Madeira Mist (Ire), by Grand Lodge. (€260,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £24,629.
3–Mohican Heights (Ire), 126, c, 3, Australia (GB)–Mohican Princess (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB). (€100,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR; £520,000 2yo '19 GOFLON). O-Sun Bloodstock SARL; B-Kevin J Molloy (IRE); T-David Simcock. £12,309.
Margins: 2, 2, 3/4. Odds: 18.00, 4.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Mogul (GB), Sound of Cannons (GB), Papa Power (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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