Pyledriver chasing Derby fairytale after surprise success at Royal Ascot

A Derby winner called Dave. It’s an unlikely outcome but then Dave comes with an unlikely story.

Once valued at no more than £10,000, Dave is bidding to topple the millionaire three-year-old superstars of the equine world in Kameko and English King.

On the day, Dave will enter his stall under his racing name Pyledriver but to trainer William Muir, hoping to pull off a horse-racing fairytale, he will always answer to another name… Dave.

Dave’s mother La Pyle had started as a jumper originating in France. Trained in England over the hurdles by Philip Hobbs, she finished towards the back of the field in her two races on English soil. Following an injury on the gallops, her career was ended but her owners decided to send her to stud with Harbour Watch.

“Then out he came as Dave and he’s been Dave ever since,” said Muir, for whom it will be a first Derby runner, in fact a first runner in any Group 1 race at all.

Dave was briefly taken to sales with a reserve price of £10,000 and, such was his pedigree, no one even got him out of his box to take a closer look.

“But from day one, he was just a natural individual,” said Muir. “When he ran the first time he was 66-1 but I knew he was better than that. About two furlongs out he just went past the field.

“And when you look at him, anyone who didn’t know would think he’s by Frankel. He’s a very good looking and imposing horses and he’s got a great mind on him, not to mention fantastic ability. None of the other horses will bother him. He won’t know they’re competition, just other horses.”

Since his form has improved with each step-up in class, calls have come in from around the world offering sizeable sums to take ownership.

Owners Guy and Huw Leach and Roger Devlin, have turned down such advances paving the way for Saturday’s Derby chance.

Asked what it would mean to win, Muir said: “How do we answer that? If we win it, you don’t dare to dream that far. But to win it would be everything. A footballer has the FA Cup, a golfer the Open or Masters, this is what we all want. To get a horse with a chance is all you ever want.”

Coming from a small stables, Muir is very hands-on to the extent that he was Pyledriver’s driver down to Epsom.

And on board will be a former Derby winner in Martin Dwyer (below), who also happens to be Muir’s son-in-law.

“For my family to win this would be more than a fairytale,” said Muir. “It would be just fantastic. And I’m old now so I can enjoy it more. When you’re young, things happen and you don’t quite take it in.

“When he won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, we couldn’t properly celebrate. In years gone by, we would have had a picnic in the car park with the owners and probably still be there celebrating the next day. Instead, I had a packed lunch with an orange juice and ate that in isolation and went home.”

But the hope now is that Pyledriver will not be a horse in isolation for Muir - already, La Pyle has a filly foal to Frankel.

As Muir puts it: “This is just the start. I’m not saying any will be as good as him but it could be anything’s possible next.”

The Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday 4th July is part of the 2020 QIPCO British Champions Series. For more info go to britishchampionsseries.com

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