Pyledriver so game in tough battle

Coral Coronation Cup (Group 1)

THE Group 1 Coronation Cup provided its usual small field, but it also served up a finish of magnificent intensity. The Martin Dwyer-ridden Pyledriver (William Muir and Chris Grassick) rallied to regain the advantage from favourite Al Aasy (William Haggas/Jim Crowley) after the latter had swooped from last place, the son of Harbour Watch grabbing the spoils by a neck, with the pair seven lengths clear of a toiling Japan (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) in third.

The 8/1 winner was the first to show in front before David Egan took Highland Chief to the head of affairs, but with the latter looking to slow the pace before the halfway mark, Dwyer was not content to allow someone else to control the gallop, and sent Pyledriver on again, chased by Highland Chief, Albaflora under pressure, and Japan close up.

In pursuit

Mogul had begun to struggle before the turn into the straight, but Al Aasy moved menacingly in pursuit of the leading group at that juncture.

As Highland Chief and Albaflora began to feel the pinch a quarter of a mile out, Crowley moved Al Aasy up to challenge and he looked all over the winner with over a furlong left; at that point, Pyledriver was the only other contender able to maintain the gallop, with Japan the latest to cry enough.

Despite wandering and being headed inside the last, Pyledriver responded gamely to pressure and wouldn’t let Al Aasy take his measure, gradually working his way back alongside and taking a small but decisive advantage as the pair lunged for the line, with no photograph required.

Revelation

Pyledriver proved a revelation for William Muir (now sharing a licence with Chris Grassick) last year, taking the scalp of Mogul in both the King Edward VII Stakes and the Great Voltigeur before a fine third in the St Leger.

He was too keen for his own good in the Derby and again on his reappearance in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (“like a bottle of pop shook up”, according to his rider), but he settled much better here having been allowed to go forward by Martin Dwyer, and bounced back to form as a result.

He has his quirks, and he ducked both ways when beaten at Newmarket, but there is no denying that he is both classy and genuine on his day, and after two impressive Group 2 wins last season, he very much deserved his win at the top level,

Victory here gave Dwyer the distinction of having ridden winners or all three of Epsom’s Group 1 races, having taken the Oaks with Casual Look (2003) and the Derby on Sir Percy (2006).

Reared

Al Aasy reared as the stalls opened, which can’t have helped his chance, but the race was otherwise run to suit him, and he seems to have run up to the form he showed when winning the Aston Park Stakes at Newbury. He proved here than he could handle a different track, but he was outbattled in the finish, and that was the difference between an easy win over Group 3 rivals and defeat in a proper Group 1.

He proved that he’s good enough to contend at this level of competition, and perhaps his involvement in a proper tussle will see him progress again.

Both Japan and his brother Mogul are better on faster ground, so it’s easy enough to excuse their defeats, although the latter has now finished adrift of Pyledriver in three of that colt’s victories, and perhaps it’s time to admit that he may not be the superior animal he’s often touted as. Albaflora wasn’t disgraced in fourth, but she didn’t look to handle the track, hanging left on the camber, and she remains better judged on her impressive Ascot win, a victory which has been franked since by the runner-up. She would be an interesting runner in the Hardwicke back at Royal Ascot.