By Tom Frary
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.
Pyledriver – back with a bang! 👏
The King George hero lands the Hardwicke on his return at #RoyalAscot for PJ McDonald and @Muir_Grassick… pic.twitter.com/SjNeJ9mDST
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 24, 2023
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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