'Whoosh he was gone' - Pyledriver warms up for Hong Kong in style

Saturday: Lingfield

Pyledriver put in a perfect dress rehearsal for the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin next month when winning the 1m2f Listed Churchill Stakes.

The Group 1 winner has had a stop-start season through injury, but patience from his handlers, William Muir and Chris Grassick, could pay dividends in Hong Kong after a satisfactory return.

Muir told Sky Sports Racing: “After his injury we were aiming for the Juddmonte International, but we got the vet in and he could still feel a bit of blood from the tweaked muscle.

"So I said he’s finished, I'm stopping, he'll go off on his holiday and then we’ll have a winter campaign. My aim is Hong Kong – maybe it was meant to be.”

The Lambourn-based trainer waxed lyrical about his stable star's performance, adding: “We gave 7lb to top, 100 per cent, race-fit horses and we weren’t fit. That was a hell of a performance.

“The gears he’s shown turning in – whoosh he was gone. He’s like a ballet dancer.”

Winning jockey Martin Dwyer added: "I’m delighted with him, it’s a great stepping stone for the big races to come – I’m excited."

Good Effort remains unbeaten at Lingfield

The Ismail Mohammed-trained Good Effort put in a great effort to win back-to-back runnings of the 6f Listed Golden Rose Stakes.

Jim Crowley, in the saddle for the first time, told Sky Sports Racing: “He got a bit lonely in front, but he kills his races from the bend – he’s very fast.”

The 2019 winner Judicial was a fast-finishing second while The Last Lion, who was making his first start in 1,876 days, managed to beat only one home.

Results, replays and analysis

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