'Mine go on with age' - King George hero Pyledriver set for all-weather comeback

William Muir hopes his track record with older horses can be a pointer for stable star Pyledriver, who is nearing his first start since last summer's memorable King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes success.

Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick, intends to run the six-year-old in the BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield on February 25 before a trip to Meydan for the Dubai Sheema Classic at the end of March.

Owned by the La Pyle Partnership, the son of Harbour Watch was being prepared for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but suffered a setback that also ruled him out of any Breeders' Cup or Hong Kong targets last year.

"He's good – going brilliantly," Muir said. "We're on target for Lingfield, and he looks a million dollars and showing all of his old spark. You can tell it's still there and you don't have to press any buttons; I know him.

"Lingfield is a trial and if he gets beaten I won't be crying. It's to get a run under our belt and we ran, and won, on the all-weather at Lingfield before he went to Hong Kong in 2021.

"If he wins at Lingfield, beautiful, but it's the beginning of our year and then it will be the Sheema Classic."

Pyledriver: finished fourth in last year's Sheema ClassicCredit: Edward Whitaker

The homebred runner was also a top-level winner in the 2021 Coronation Cup and was fourth in last year's Sheema Classic after a prep outing in Saudi Arabia, but connections decided not to follow the same route once more.

"The timing of Lingfield is perfect for Dubai," the Lambourn trainer added. "The money in Saudi is wonderful and it wasn't that I didn't like it last year – it was lovely – but if you get drawn, like we were, on the outside your chance is nil and I don't want to travel him for his first run of the year."

PJ McDonald will retain the ride on Pyledriver, who has become part of the furniture at Muir's Linkslade yard.

"Someone said to me recently about horses getting on in age and I told them to go through the ones I've had," Muir said. "Texas Gold raced until he was nine, Big Baz won on his last start as a seven-year-old, Alpen Wolf went on until he was eight, while Material Witness was ten.

"Averti won a Group race as a six-year-old and was second in the Abbaye a year later, and only Sole Power – one of the world's best sprinters – stopped Stepper Point winning two Group 1s as a five-year-old, and even then he still went on to win as an eight-year-old.

"I'm not a trainer whose two-year-olds have to win and win, so mine go on and on."

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