Pyledriver training in Riyadh | racingfotos.com
Last year’s G1 Crowning Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) was reported by his co-coach William Muir to be doing well ahead of the Neom Turf Cup 3 on Saturday and although a positive Covid test ruled out Muir from traveling to Saudi Arabia, he still follows his steady star via video feed and through communication with his team on the ground, which includes son-in-law and athletes Martin Dwyer.
Five-year-old Pylediver has won the Churchill S.
“The horse is in great condition, he traveled well to Hong Kong and it was his first time doing it,” Muir said. “Since he’s in Saudi Arabia, he’s been bouncing around and kicking. He finished with ease [Thursday] morning on the pitch, I watched it on video and we were all very pleased with it.
“Martin is very happy with him. He did the same thing in Hong Kong – we were getting back on track together and I said ‘what do you think?’ and he said, ‘the one that beats wins’, and he was right, the horse that beat us won. I asked him how he was this morning and he said he feels better than in Hong Kong, he said he feels fresh, he’s sober, he’s just in a very good place . We are in a good place. The horse had everything going perfectly. We had fun, we just had to exercise on Friday and then see what happens during the day. ”
Muir, who co-trained with Chris Grassick, said it was “frustrating” to have to self-isolate while Pylediver continued his travels.
“I was able to get there on my own, but I tested positive for Covid so I couldn’t go,” Muir said. “Martin is fine, he tested negative so he’s out and about right now. It was so frustrating, I had to stay away from the staff so they wouldn’t catch it either. I just got a little cold. A few years ago I wouldn’t have missed any work, if I had worked for someone else I would have felt guilty that I didn’t work. “
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This story was posted in Europe’s Top News and tagged Chris Grassick, Neom Turf Cup, Pyledriver, Saudi Cup, William Muir.
