William Muir

'He's Been Fantastic' – Muir Brings Curtain Down On Pyledriver's Career

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who won over £2 million in prize-money and took his trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick to some of the top races around the world, has been retired.  Pyledriver suffered a setback ahead of an intended appearance at Kempton on Saturday leaving Muir with a straightforward decision to retire his horse of a lifetime. Winner of the 2021 Coronation Cup at Epsom and last year's King George at Ascot, the six-year-old had been preparing for a possible tilt at the Prix...

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King George Hero Pyledriver Aiming At Sheema Classic As He Returns To Full Work

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has returned to full work and will take another crack at the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, according to co-trainer William Muir, who trains with Chris Grassick. The 5-year-old entire took the G1 Coronation Cup last year, and was fourth in the Sheema Classic this March. Second in defence of his Coronation Cup back at Epsom in June, he was last seen taking the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. by 2 3/4 lengths at Ascot on July...

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Pyledriver To Miss Breeders' Cup

Fan favourite Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), not seen at the races since defeating Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G1 King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. at Ascot July 23, will not be ready for a tilt at the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland Race Course Nov. 5, co-trainer William Muir told At The Races Monday. "I think it will come too soon and there's no way I'm putting pressure on him at any stage," the conditioner told At The Races's Luke Harvey. "He's swimming...

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Muir Charting A Straight Path to Paris for the Arc with Pyledriver

All roads lead to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October for Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), with the 5-year-old's joint-trainer providing an upbeat bulletin on his stable star. William Muir has described the King George hero to be "jumping out of his skin" as he prepares for a tilt at the Arc and revealed Pyledriver could head straight to Paris without the benefit of a prep race. Despite being a previous winner of the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot, the G2 Great Voltigeur at...

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Pyledriver Heads To The Arc Prior To Targets Farther Afield

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has emerged from his G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. victory in good order and will point towards the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2, according to co-trainer William Muir. After running second in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December, the bay did not make an impact in Riyadh, and was an unlucky fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March. Wheeled back attempting a title defence of his G1 Coronation...

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Seven Days: A Big, Big Moment

An unusually quiet Sunday on the European circuit allows a pause before the meeting that should only ever be referred to as Glorious Goodwood, and also some reflection on a truly special result at Ascot on Saturday afternoon. William Muir, a baby-faced veteran of the training ranks who now shares his licence with Chris Grassick, assessed the greatest win of his 30-year training career as "a big, big moment", and he deserves to enjoy that moment for days and weeks to come.  By now, the story of Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour...

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Pyledriver in Good Order For Coronation Cup Defence

Last year's G1 Coronation Cup victor Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is pleasing co-trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick ahead of a title defence of that Epsom contest on June 3. The 5-year-old entire, who races for the La Pyle Partnership, won the Listed Churchill S. in November of 2021 and signed off his year when second by a length in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December. He was unplaced in the G3 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia, but improved to fourth in Meydan's...

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Dwyer To Miss Season With Injury

Martin Dwyer will be out the rest of the season after sustaining an injury last month that requires surgery. The jockey, who won the 2006 G1 Derby aboard Sir Percy (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), tore his ACL after a leather iron broke on the gallops riding out for Brian Meehan. Dwyer, who is stable jockey for trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick, will be having surgery in the next few weeks. "He is having plenty of physio down at Oaksey House [rehabilitation and fitness centre in Lambourn] before the...

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Pyledriver 'Bouncing And Kicking' In Saudi

Last year's G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is reported to be in fine fettle by his co-trainer William Muir ahead of Saturday's G3 Neom Turf Cup, and though a positive Covid test has ruled Muir out of traveling to Saudi Arabia, he has been keeping close tabs on his stable star via video feed and through communication with his team on the ground, which includes his son-in-law and jockey Martin Dwyer. The 5-year-old Pyledriver won the Listed Churchill S. at Lingfield on Nov. 13 in his...

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Mishriff on Track For Saudi Cup Title Defence

Prince Faisal's 2021 $20-million Saudi Cup hero Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) is in excellent form ahead of his defence of his crown in the 2022 edition, the first time the race has been accorded Group 1 status. The John and Thady Gosden runner took the G1 Sheema Classic at Meydan last March, and was third in Sandown's G1 Eclipse S. July. Second to Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 24, he bounced back to win the G1 Juddmonte International...

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Middle East Campaign For Pyledriver

In the wake of Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire})'s second-place finish in Sunday's G1 Hong Kong Vase, co-trainer William Muir has said that the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic is on the soon-to-be 5-year-old's agenda, with a stop at the Saudi Cup meeting along the way a possibility. "Everything's on the table," Muir said. "He's definitely going to have a winter campaign and it's going to end up at the Sheema Classic before he comes home to have a little bit of a break. Let's keep our fingers crossed, we all...

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Pyledriver in Good Order After Win, Hong Kong Still Plan

G1 Coronation Cup hero Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) exited his victory in the Listed Churchill S. in good order and his next target remains the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase on Dec. 12. "He was fantastic on Sunday morning," said trainer William Muir, who trains with Chris Grassick. "He moves so beautifully and he's like a dressage horse the way he trots away. He's got so much bounce--he's perfect. "He lost a wee bit of weight but I thought he would. He was quite over his racing weight so...

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