Pyledriver, winner of final yr’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Coronation Cup in 2021, has been retired after the recurrence of a suspensory ligament damage to his off-fore, coach William Muir introduced on Tuesday.
The six-year-old was on track to function in Saturday’s Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton earlier than a possible crack on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe subsequent month.
After a “fairly sensible” exercise on the gallops on Friday, Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick, began to have considerations when Pyledriver returned to the yard.
Muir informed the Racing Submit on Tuesday morning: “He labored very good on Friday and cantered on Monday, however when he got here again on Friday he was a bit bit sore in the identical place the place he bought that setback within the suspensory ligament earlier than.
“He was effective within the night, and the following day, then my vet was in on Monday and we couldn’t imagine it. I feel there’s one thing which is niggling and it’s necessary we don’t do something as a result of we’ve to play the sport correctly.
“He’s not lame and he cantered on Monday, however we had a gathering and all made the choice. This horse has been so good to us and I don’t need to put him via one thing that would go mistaken.”
Owned by La Pyle Partnership, the son of Harbour Watch received eight of his 20 begins, 5 of which have been at Group stage, and he earned greater than £2 million prize-money. His ultimate racecourse look got here when ending fifth to Hukum on this yr’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July.
Pyledriver’s eighth and ultimate success got here at this yr’s Royal Ascot as he returned from a 336-day layoff to land the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.
Muir mentioned: “We did every thing we might and after we went again to Royal Ascot, we didn’t have a run for ages as a result of we’d been minding him all the best way as much as that day.
“To go and do what he did was unbelievable. It doesn’t matter how lengthy I prepare for, I don’t suppose I’ll ever see a horse do what he did contemplating the brief quantity of labor he had earlier than it.”
Pyledriver was 25-1 with most companies for the Arc at Longchamp on October 1, with the September Stakes anticipated to be his ultimate run earlier than contesting Europe’s richest Flat race.
Muir added: “On the gallops on Friday he was in tip-top type. He was contemporary, he was properly and he was completely bouncing – you couldn’t see something higher.
“If he was 100 per cent sound and was bucking and kicking, then we’d go to Kempton on Saturday and I’d’ve mentioned that it’d take an excellent horse to beat him.
“Nonetheless, if he went there and bought an damage and tore the ligament or put extra stress on the opposite leg and broke it, then I’d stroll away from every thing. I wouldn’t be capable of put up with it, so I feel that is the best choice. He’s been such a improbable horse for us all, however we’ve to do what is true for him.
“We’re on this sport as a result of we love these horses and I don’t need to see horses injured.”
Pyledriver has supplied his connections with recollections for all times and Muir believes it’s not simply these near him who will miss seeing him race.
He mentioned: “I feel he’s beloved by lots of people across the nation, whether or not that’s punters and different individuals in racing.
“The homeowners have been improbable from day one at Salisbury and I couldn’t communicate extra extremely of them or my employees. The boys that take care of him might be devastated as a result of he’s a giant a part of our yard.
“He must exit on the proper time and that is the best time. It might be such a disgrace if he have been to exit after one thing had gone utterly mistaken or, worse nonetheless, lack of life.
“I might maintain working him as a result of he’s in improbable type, however my instincts are telling me that is the time to retire him. I’ll all the time do what’s proper for each horse, however Pyledriver has been so particular all through our profession.
“We’ve now bought to search out one other one and I’ve bought to search out him a stallion’s job – it’s onwards and upwards.”
Courtesy of Racing Submit
