Pyledriver returns in style with Royal Ascot success ahead of King George defence

Pyledriver returned for the first time since winning the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes with a bang, triumphing in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

While it wasn’t quite as spectacular as when the six-year-old son of Harbour Watch landed the Group 1 race 11 months ago as an 18/1 shot for Lambourn’s Chris Grassick and William Muir, Pyledriver showed his class on his return from an injury lay-off to finish a length-and-a-quarter clear of Simon and Ed Crisford’s West Wind Blows.

Finding himself in third following a keen start to the race, he continued to travel well and led a furlong from home, edging slightly to the left before straightening and staying on strongly to land a first Royal Ascot winner for Patrick Joseph “PJ” McDonald.

There was a stewards’ enquiry following Pyledriver’s move to the left down the home straight but the result never appeared in serious doubt, with West Wind Blows backing up his Longchamp Group 3 win last time out with a runner-up finish, while Aidan O’Brien’s Changingoftheguard was third.

Co-trainer William Muir afterwards said he still feels there is more to come from Pyledriver, who is set to defend his King George VI crown next month.

“I know how much this horse will improve,” he said.

“Yes, he rolled around, but he was on fumes.

“There are loads of people to thank.

“The lad who looks after him, Pyledriver bit him today and he has got a great big haematoma on his arm, and he said it is a ‘love bite’.

Jeta, who rides him, told me after his last piece of work that we were back to where we were before the Sheema Classic (when he was fourth)."

“I knew he was a class horse and I knew he would be competitive.

“He never knows when to chuck it in, but I did think match fitness might catch us out.

“We will see how he is tonight, tomorrow, the next day, but the King George will be next all being well.

“This is what we dream about, to have horses like this.

“The owners were offered fortunes for him as a three-year-old and they have been so loyal to the horse.”

Meanwhile, winning rider PJ McDonald was over the moon after landing his first ever Royal Ascot winner following years of trying.

He said: “We have a superstar horse, I just need to keep him in a straight line.

“When he hits the front, he always runs around.

“It just goes to show how much ability he has that he’s not concentrating on running in a straight line.

“I’m 41 years of age and I’ve been coming here a bit, but you need a good horse coming here.

“Whatever happens now I’m a Royal Ascot winner.”