Trainer Willie Muir eyes the Investec Derby after Pyledriver pulls off fairytale success in the King Edward VII Stakes on first day of Royal Ascot
- Pyledriver hammered a smart field to give William Muir a fairytale success
- Pyledriver pulled off an 18-1 victory in the King Edward VII Stakes on Tuesday
- Willie Muir went home delighted with a 14-1 chance for the Investec Derby
Trainer Willie Muir dreamt he would have two winners on the opening day of Royal Ascot but went home delighted with a second place plus a 14-1 chance for the Investec Derby after Pyledriver pulled off an 18-1 victory in the King Edward VII Stakes.
It was a second royal meeting win for Muir, who also saddled Jack’s Point to be second to Motakhayyel in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, ending a winless spell stretching back to Zargus in the 2002 Balmoral Stakes.
Pyledriver’s two-length win from Arthur’s Kingdom means Muir’s jockey son-in-law Martin Dwyer will have another potent shot at the Derby which he won on Sir Percy in 2006.
Pyledriver hammered a smart field to give Willie Muir a fairytale Royal Ascot success
The win was even more special because Pyledriver’s owners, brothers Guy and Huw Leach and Roger Devlin, bred the horse and put him into training when he didn’t attract a bid at the sales.
Muir said: ‘I suppose we will have to think about the Derby.’
Disappointment of the race was Aidan O’Brien-trained 10-11 favourite Mogul, beaten almost five lengths in fourth.
