“PYLEDRIVER is the best horse I’ve ever had anything to do with, and gave us so many fantastic days. From day one he never let us down; brilliant temperament, went on any ground, clean winded and super sound.” So said the horse’s trainer, William Muir.
Robert McCarthy at The Beeches Stud added: “Pyledriver is a fine big horse, with plenty of quality about him, a great colour and a very good walk. He was a terrific racehorse and he’s a complete outcross for the majority of National Hunt mares.”
It will be little surprise if, when the Return of Mares 2024 is issued, that Pyledriver proves to be one of the most popular stallions covering this year. He stands at an attractive opening fee.
The versatile son of Harbour Watch won from two to six, over distances from seven to 12 furlongs, and his principal victories came in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Group 1 Coronation Cup. Twice a winner at Royal Ascot, in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, Pyledriver added a third Group 2 success in the Great Voltigeur Stakes.
Three times Pyledriver reached the frame in Group 1 races, second to Hukum in the Coronation Cup, runner-up in the Hong Kong Vase, and third to Galileo Chrome in the St Leger. He earned more than £2 million.
A great racing favourite, Pyledriver offers a fascinating pedigree for National Hunt breeders.
His sire was bred at Co Limerick’s Riversfield Stud. Just like Dark Angel, also a son of Acclamation (Royal Applause), Harbour Watch gained his most important win at two when he was successful in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.
He was unbeaten at two but, sadly, did not make it back to the racetrack, retiring to stud at Tweenhills. His five European crops included a pair of Group 1 winners, the other being the Riversfield-bred Waikuku, a triple Group 1 winner in Hong Kong.
In total, Harbour Watch sired 10 stakes winners.
Pyledriver is the first foal out of dual French winner La Pyle (Le Havre), and the second of that mare’s successes at three was at Saint-Cloud. Her first four foals are all now winners. La Pyle is a half-sister to Mont Ormel (Air Chief Marshal), winner of the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, and a full-sister to Normandel (Le Havre), a Group 3 winner in Ireland and a broodmare at Ballylinch Stud.
Their half-sister Lillebonne (Danehill Dancer) is the dam of three stakes winners, two of them successful in 2023, and a stakes-placed runner. One of the trio is Thornbrook (Saxon Warrior) who won the Listed Prix Bagatelle at Chantilly and was beaten a length by Meditate when third in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at two.
Race record
PYLEDRIVER (GB), Bay horse, 2017. Jt Champion older horse in Europe in 2022 (11-13f.). Top rated older horse in England in 2021 and 2022 (11-13f.). Won 8 races, value £2,023,495, at 2 to 6, from 7 furlongs to 1 mile 4 furlongs, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Coronation Cup, Epsom, Gr.1, Hardwicke Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, King Edward VII Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Great Voltigeur Stakes, York, Gr.2, Churchill Stakes, Lingfield, L., Ascendant Stakes, Haydock, L., also placed second in Coronation Cup, Epsom, Gr.1, The Hong Kong Vase, Sha Tin, Gr.1, Jockey Club Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2, Classic Trial, Kempton, Gr.3 and third in St Leger Stakes, Doncaster, Gr.1.
At stud
Retired to stud in 2024.
Information
Stands at: The Beeches Stud, Lismore, Co. Waterford, P51 H70H, Ireland
Contact: Robert McCarthy, Bobby McCarthy, or Peter Kenneally
Telephone: +353 58 56254
Email: thebeechesstud@outlook.com
Web: www.coolmore.com
Fee: €5,000