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William Muir insists his confidence in Pyledriver has not been dented regardless of his King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes defeat, however is not sure if the six-year-old will run once more earlier than the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October.
Owned by the La Pyle Partnership, Pyledriver was bidding to win the Ascot spotlight for the second 12 months working, however may end solely fifth behind Hukum.
He’s entered within the Juddmonte Worldwide Stakes at York on Wednesday week, however an alternative choice is Kempton’s Unibet September Stakes subsequent month.
Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick, is open-minded about Pyledriver heading straight to Longchamp for the Arc, for which the son of Harbour Watch could be backed at 40-1. He mentioned: “We have to make our minds up about whether or not we go to York or Kempton.
“One of many homeowners has thrown a bit googly in there by suggesting we go straight to the Arc, so we’ll have a chat over the subsequent few days. The horse is in good type although.”
Pyledriver, who’s 20-1 for York’s Worldwide, had impressed in June’s Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, which was his first begin since his King George triumph in 2022. Nevertheless, on this 12 months’s working he completed eight and three-quarters of a size behind the Owen Burrows-trained Hukum, who repelled Westover in an exhilarating duel.
“I assumed it was a fantastic race and it was incredible to be a part of it,” Muir added. “It was nice for Owen to win it and for Ralph [Beckett] that Westover ran so effectively, so I don’t wish to take something away from them. I used to be pleased and Pyledriver has been excellent at residence since.”
The Coronation Cup winner of 2021 normally races over a mile and a half and can be dropping in journey within the Worldwide.
“That’s a bit factor if we wish to come again to a mile and two and a half furlongs, nevertheless it wouldn’t fear me and it wouldn’t fear PJ [McDonald],” Muir mentioned.
“If we went to Kempton on September 9 that’s ideally located for the Arc, nevertheless it additionally doesn’t matter if we go straight to the Arc. My confidence in him hasn’t been dented in anyway. If we verify him for York on Thursday, it’s possible he’ll run.”
Courtesy of Racing Submit
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