Pyledriver to stand under the Coolmore National Hunt banner

‘King George’ and Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver will stand under the Coolmore NH banner having been acquired following his recent retirement.

“Pyledriver is the best horse I’ve ever had anything to do with and gave us so many fantastic days” enthused his trainer William Muir. “From day one he never let us down; brilliant temperament, went on any ground, clean winded and super sound. The only issue he ever had was caused by another horse leaning on him in that race in Saudi. It’ll be a very sad day when he leaves the yard but I think he’ll continue to excel in his new career.”

In all Pyledriver won eight races, seven of them blacktype including two at Group 1 level. A Listed winner as a two-year-old he added the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes and Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes the following season and was unlucky to be badly hampered in the early stages of the Derby which ended his race. As a four-year-old he landed the Group 1 Coronation Cup but his finest hour undoubtedly came in last season’s Group 1 ‘King George’ where he defeated a field of Group 1 winners namely ‘Arc’ winner Torquator Tasso, globetrotting superstar Mishriff, Broome, Westover and Emily Upjohn. Returning to the Berkshire track this summer he recorded his second Royal Ascot success in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.

A son of Harbour Watch, Pyledriver is out of a daughter of Le Havre who won twice in France at three years and is herself a half-sister to Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Mont Ormel.

“Pyledriver is a fine big horse, with plenty of quality about him, a great colour and a very good walk,” said Robert McCarthy who went to inspect him. “He was a terrific racehorse and he’s a complete outcross for the majority of National Hunt mares here in Ireland.”