Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:
Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.
PYLEDRIVER remains on target for back-to-back wins in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on July 29 after a tenacious victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Pyledriver’s one-and-a-quarter-length victory in the Group 2 contest at the Royal Meeting was all the more impressive for defying a lengthy absence and the victory was recorded at his first run since winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in July 2022.
At Royal Ascot, Pyledriver raced close to the pace throughout the one-and-a-half-mile contest and took the lead a furlong out to secure victory under jockey PJ MCDonald who was registering is first Royal Ascot winner.
There was a stewards’ enquiry after Pyledriver edged to his right in the closing stages, but the result did not look in doubt and he was quickly confirmed the winner.
Winning co-trainer William Muir said: “I know how much this horse will improve. Yes, he rolled around, but he was on fumes. There are loads of people to thank. The lad who looks after him, Pyledriver bit him today and he has got a great big haematoma on his arm, and he said it is “a love bite”.
“Jeta, who rides him, told me after his last piece of work that we were back to where we were before the Sheema Classic. 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.
“He rolled around in the St Leger, and ‘they’ said it was Martin Dwyer, he is not a good jockey – I tell you Martin is a great jockey and made this horse what he is today.
“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 three-year-old, and they have been so loyal to the horse,” Muir said to Racenews.
McDonald – who last year registered the biggest success of his career win winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – added: “Pyledriver is a horse that when he hits the front, he always runs around. I thought when I came on the outside he’d be okay but, when I gave him a dig one side, he’s lugged one way and then the other.
“It just goes to show how much ability he has that he’s not concentrating on running in a straight line. I straightened him up each time, but I think he’s a very comfortable winner and I don’t think anyone can take it away from him.
“I haven’t sat on this horse since last year’s King George – the lads just said you keep away, you’re better off not complicating things. And what a performance to get this fella back today.
“I think they had him pretty fit. 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!
“This is Royal Ascot. I’m 41 years of age and I’ve been coming here a bit, but you need a good horse coming here. There’s no point unless you have a good animal – whatever happens now I’m a Royal Ascot winner!”
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