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.”
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