William Muir and Chris Grassick

King George Hero Pyledriver To Stand Under Coolmore's NH Banner Next Year

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}--La Pyle {Fr}, by Le Havre {Ire}) will stand under the Coolmore National Hunt banner in 2024, Coolmore announced on Friday. Retired earlier this year before being acquired by Coolmore, the 6-year-old won both the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 Coronation Cup. A fee will be announced later. "Pyledriver is the best horse I've ever had anything to do with and gave us so many fantastic days," said co-trainer William Muir. "From day one he never...

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Pyledriver Back With A Win In The Hardwicke

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...

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Summer Targets For Pyledriver Revealed

Multiple Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) will make his long-awaited return in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot in June, according to Chris Grassick, who trains with William Muir. A winner of the 2021 G1 Coronation Cup and 2022 G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S., the 6-year-old entire races for the La Pyle Partnership. Various setbacks have kept Pyledriver away from the races after his King George victory last July. Grassick said, "He's cantering back and William has done the entry for the Hardwicke, so...

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Pyledriver Sustains Another Setback, As Dubai Plans Scuppered

Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), a winner of the 2022 G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., has sustained a setback to his left foreleg, according to co-trainer William Muir. The bay's racing future hinges on the results of some scans. He was pointing to the G3 Winter Derby, and then was targetting the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, a race he finished fourth in last term. "When he pulled up after a piece of work he was a tiny bit off on his near-fore," said Muir, who...

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King George Glory For Pyledriver

The heat was on in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot, a "Win And You're In" for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November, and there was no hiding place as Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) proved ruthless to prevail for the William Muir and Chris Grassick stable and jockey P J McDonald. Sent off at 18-1 with a below-par second in the June 3 G1 Coronation Cup last time tempering enthusiasm, last year's winner of that Epsom prize was always...

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Pyledriver Points to Sheema Classic

Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who finished 11th in the G3 Neom Turf Cup on the Saudi Cup undercard in Riyadh on Saturday, is in good order and remains in the mix for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night on Mar. 26. Breaking widest of all from gate 14 on Saturday, the 5-year-old entire never appeared comfortable while trapped well off the fence for most of the race. He eventually tired and dropped back before being impeded by a rival that had fallen...

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