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| Sumita Pawar |
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Following a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Wednesday morning, Pyledriver is on track to defend his King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes crown.
Pyledriver, trained by William Muir and Chris Grassick, has won eight out of his 19 starts but has faced injury setbacks that have kept him on the sidelines during crucial moments of his career.
Unstoppable Pyledriver Conquers All Obstacles
Despite this, he managed to defeat German raider Torquator Tasso to win Ascot's mid-summer showpiece last year. After a 336-day absence, Pyledriver made a successful comeback in the Hardwicke Stakes. Since his victory at Royal Ascot, he has been training well and recently completed a successful gallop at Newbury as part of his preparations for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes on July 29th.
"He just did want we wanted and we were delighted with him," said Muir.
"It was not a serious, hard gallop, it was just a day out really. He goes to Newbury, has a warm-up little canter and then covers the distance, that's all. He did great.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed and we're in good shape. Fingers crossed we'll be there at Ascot."
Pyledriver has a strong record at Ascot, winning three out of his four starts at the track. Alongside his victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes, he has also achieved success at the Royal meeting.
Despite his success at Ascot, trainer William Muir believes that Pyledriver is not just a track specialist but a high-quality performer who can excel in any condition.
He added, "Everyone says he loves Ascot but that is because it is one of the only places where the races are that we have run him.
"He has only run once at York and he won, same at Haydock, he’s both a winner and second in Group Ones at Epsom. I just think he’s a good horse. The races at Ascot suit him and that’s why we’ve kept going back there really.
"He's extremely versatile - he's versatile on the ground, he’s versatile on course. He’s not one of those that you worry yourself stupid about what’s going to happen with the weather, whatever happens, happens, and you just turn up."
Muir also provided an optimistic update on Shagpyle, Pyledriver's half-sister. She made a promising start with a win at Ascot but faced tough competition at Haydock.
"She’s fine and as I said when she first ran, she won't be a filly who has too many runs this year, probably a maximum of four," said Muir.
"She's in good form and her work is totally different from when she started. Before she wasn’t strong enough to quicken and she used to just gallop away. We knew she was nice but we never put her under any real pressure because she wasn’t strong enough. Now she’s galloping really well.
"Her first run was really good, but it was on soft ground and she just got into that relentless rhythm and she was better in it than the rest. Then we went to Haydock where it was top of the ground and she didn’t mind the ground, but anything with a turn of foot quickened up and got us at it."
Her next outing could potentially be at Doncaster or Deauville, and while Muir is not completely ruling out St Leger, he believes she may not reach her full potential until next season.
"If she were to win her next race easily and the ground was soft, then we would have one more run in a nice race and we’ve entered her (in the Leger) just to see what happens," continued Muir.
"She is just a transformed filly from how she started the season and next year we will be purring about her because she will be going long distances.
"That’s why the Leger distance will suit her because she will get the trip, so although it is a bit of a throwaway entry, if we got there and it’s soft ground, you just never know."