Pyledriver Scores 18-1 King George VI Knockout

Few people gave Pyledriver  a fighting chance, but joint-trainer William Muir was so confident he predicted his stable star would win the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) two weeks ago.

The 5-year-old was an 18-1 outsider in a field of high achievers July 23, including winners of the Tattersalls Irish Derby (G1), Juddmonte International (G1) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), but they did not land a blow as he scored by 2 3/4 lengths.

He beat Torquator Tasso , once again forgotten in the market just as he was at ParisLongchamp last year, in this battle of the generations, with 3-year-olds Westover  and Emily Upjohn  finishing fifth and sixth.

"I knew he was going to win two weeks ago," said Muir, who will be driving the winner home. "He did a strong piece of work with a good seven-furlong horse. He gave him seven lengths but caught up and went away from him.

"I've never wanted to cry, but I do today. I didn't care who was running. I know they said Westover was fantastic in the Irish Derby and they thought Emily Upjohn was terrific, but we also knew our horse was very talented."

Pyledriver has taken his connections on a remarkable journey. He failed to fetch a reserve of just 10,000 guineas (US$14,006) when sent to the sales as a foal but has scored at Royal Ascot and won the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) in 2020 before providing Muir and Chris Grassick with their first top-level stakes score in last year's Coral Coronation Cup (G1).

Since then he has taken them to Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, but he reached new heights at Ascot under P. J. McDonald, who deputized for the sidelined Martin Dwyer with Frankie Dettori aboard Emily Upjohn.

"He won at 50-1 on his debut at Salisbury, and I told the owners not to let him run without backing him, and we all did," said Muir. "Then he went to Newbury, and our old friend Matt Chapman said the form of his first race was bad, but he managed to finish fourth when drawn on the wrong side.

"He then won the Ascendant Stakes under P. J., who has a 100% record on him. We've got to love him, but we do feel sorry for Martin, who told P. J. exactly how to ride him.

"It's been an amazing journey since then. I've never lost any faith in him, and he's just won one of the biggest races."

And what does it mean to Muir?

"In the early days, we won a five-furlong race here and were jumping around and partying in the car park," he said.

"When he won the King Edward VI Stakes (G2) we were in the car park for so long I almost had to go home every day to train him. I don't drink, and I'm not going to start, but there will be a big party. This was a big moment."

It was certainly a big moment for McDonald. The rider was one of the main beneficiaries of a dizzying jockeys' merry-go-round in the build-up to the group 1, and while many hoped to land the ride, it was McDonald who was entrusted with it.

As one door closed for Dwyer—out of action following an operation on torn ligaments in his knee sustained during a freak gallops accident—another opened for McDonald, who was quick to pay tribute to his injured colleague.

"I feel so sorry for Martin," said McDonald. "These horses are so hard to come by, and I know what he'll be going through. He's an absolute gent and has been so supportive of me. He's helped me so much in the last week, and I'll be sure to keep Pyledriver right for him for when he comes back.

"You work hard every day but don't believe these days will happen. This came by luck. It was someone else's misfortune, and I've stood in, but I'm grateful.

"I can't believe it. During the final furlong I was thinking 'where are they? Where are they?' I was willing the line to come and thank God it did as he was running around in front.

"You wouldn't believe how confident Martin was on the phone today. We had a game plan, and everything just panned out."

Joint-owner Roger Devlin suggested all roads will now lead to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) for Pyledriver, who was cut to 16-1 (from 66-1) by Betfair.

With his victory in the King George VI and Elizabeth Stakes, a Breeders' Cup Challenge event, Pyledriver earned an automatic berth to the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland.