Pyledriver ‘Bouncing And Kicking’ In Saudi

Final yr’s G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is reported to be in tremendous fettle by his co-trainer William Muir forward of Saturday’s G3 Neom Turf Cup, and although a optimistic Covid check has dominated Muir out of touring to Saudi Arabia, he has been holding shut tabs on his secure star by way of video feed and thru communication along with his staff on the bottom, which incorporates his son-in-law and jockey Martin Dwyer.

The 5-year-old Pyledriver received the Listed Churchill S. at Lingfield on Nov. 13 in his first outing for the reason that Coronation Cup, and he was second within the G1 Hong Kong Vase when final seen on Dec. 12.

“The horse is in nice order, he travelled nicely to Hong Kong and that was the primary time he is ever carried out it,” Muir stated. “Since he is been in Saudi he is bouncing and kicking. He is carried out a breeze [Thursday] morning on grass, I’ve seen it on video and we have been all very proud of it.

“Martin was delighted with him. He did the identical factor in Hong Kong–we have been strolling again off the monitor collectively and I stated ‘what do you assume?’ and he stated, ‘no matter beats this can win,’ and he was proper, the one horse that beat us received. I requested him this morning how he was and he stated he feels higher than Hong Kong, he stated he feels recent, he is alert, he is simply in an excellent place. We’re in place. The horse has had all the things occur completely. We’re comfortable, we have simply bought to train on Friday after which see what occurs on the day.”

Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick, stated it was “irritating” to be self-isolating whereas Pyledriver goes on his travels.

“I might have been there myself, however I’ve examined optimistic for Covid so I could not go,” Muir stated. “Martin was tremendous, he had a damaging check so he is gone out and is there now. It is simply irritating, I’ve bought to maintain myself away from the workers so they do not catch it as nicely. I’ve simply bought somewhat little bit of a chilly. A number of years in the past I would not have missed any work in any respect, if I used to be working for anyone else I would be feeling responsible that I wasn’t working.”

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This story was posted in High Information Europe and tagged Chris Grassick, Neom Turf Cup, Pyledriver, Saudi Cup, William Muir.