First foal for King George and Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver

The Beeches Stud's King George and Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver has welcomed his first foal. A colt out of the well-related Oscar mare Jesse's Oscar, the foal was born late last month for Youghal-based breeder David Browne.

Browne said of his new arrival: "He’s a very athletic colt, great colour, lots of quality and good bone."

Jesse’s Oscar is a daughter of the Graded-placed Greenflag Princess, herself dam of the equally smart Kates Benefit. 

Pyledriver was one of the most popular horses of his generation, with his two career highlights coming in the Coronation Cup in 2021 and the King George in 2022. A winner of the Listed Ascendant Stakes at two for William Muir, he won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes the following season and was also third in the St Leger.

Pyledriver with William Muir at his Lambourn yardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Racing under the partnership of William Muir and Chris Grassick as a four-year-old, he defeated Al Aasy in the Coronation Cup and returned from injury to win the Listed Churchill Stakes at Lingfield that November and finish second in the Hong Kong Vase. As a five-year-old he defeated Torquator Tasso, Mishriff, Broome, Westover and Emily Upjohn in the King George, as well as finishing second to Hukum in the Coronation Cup. 

Pyledriver returned as a six-year-old to land the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and retired to Coolmore's The Beeches Stud after finishing fifth when attempting to repeat his King George victory. 

The eight-year-old stands his second season for a fee of €3,500 after being introduced to breeders at €4,000 last year.

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