In the wake of Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire})'s second-place finish in Sunday's G1 Hong Kong Vase, co-trainer William Muir has said that the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic is on the soon-to-be 5-year-old's agenda, with a stop at the Saudi Cup meeting along the way a possibility.
“Everything's on the table,” Muir said. “He's definitely going to have a winter campaign and it's going to end up at the Sheema Classic before he comes home to have a little bit of a break. Let's keep our fingers crossed, we all know sport is a cruel thing at times but he loved it [on Sunday]. He's taken it in his stride.
“If it does happen to be the Saudi Cup [next] that will give him a couple of months. He's got plenty of time to freshen up for it so he should be spot on, then the Sheema Classic would be the big target after that. He'll come back and have a little break before we get him ready for the King George or the Juddmonte, one of those two, before the Arc.”
Pyledriver was beaten only by the defending winner Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who also won the race two years ago, in the Vase.
“My initial thought when they turned for home was that the French filly [Ebaiyra, third] was travelling very strongly, and then I saw her come off the bridle,” said Muir. “We were in a very difficult spot to see clearly what was happening. Obviously we were in their country with Covid [restrictions] and we were given areas that we were allowed in. I didn't see the other horse coming down the outside and inside the final furlong I thought 'we've done it!' Then the horse came over the top and your first thought is 'ah sugar, we just got beat!' But then you're so, so proud.”
Raced by the La Pyle partnership, Pyledriver won the G1 Coronation Cup in June but was forced to miss the rest of the summer with a setback. He returned a winner in Lingfield's Listed Churchill S. on Nov. 13 prior to his Hong Kong sojourn.
“We were absolutely delighted and very proud, we have been from the day at Salisbury [his debut] because he never, ever lets you down,” Muir said.
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