Pyledriver remains steadfast in his course despite King George disappointment

King George Crown Defence Falls Short for Pyledriver, but Future Plans Remain

The hopes were high as Pyledriver returned from a long hiatus to compete in the King George crown defence at Ascot on Saturday. After an impressive comeback in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting in June, William Muir and Chris Grassick’s stable star aimed to secure back-to-back victories in this spectacular midsummer highlight.

In a thrilling finish that saw Hukum triumph over Westover, Pyledriver finished fifth, falling short by just under nine lengths. However, trainer William Muir remains optimistic about their future plans.

“Despite the outcome, I’m not disheartened,” says Muir confidently. “We will continue pursuing our original race targets for him before Saturday.”

Muir acknowledges the exceptional performance of both the winner and runner-up as he states, “The victor and second-place finisher ran exceptionally well. PJ (McDonald) mentioned that with a smoother run, we could have been slightly closer.”

Prior to the race, Muir had expressed his belief that experiencing defeat would only motivate them further. He explains,”Even the greatest sportsmen have faced defeat and come back stronger. Pyledriver is absolutely fine; he’s fit and has taken his race positively – which is all we need.”

As for their future plans, they remain unchanged: “Our strategy remains intact – our next target is either Juddmonte International or September Stakes. Although I am leaning towards Juddmonte first followed by Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.”