Pyledriver, who ran out such a convincing winner of Saturday’s Gr1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes, has ties to South African-based horses.
His late, unbeaten sire Harbour Watch (Acclamation) is a half-brother to dual South African Gr1 winner Europa Point (Rock Of Gibraltar), while Pyledriver’s dam La Pyle is out of a half-sister to KZN sire Linngari.
Pyledriver charges home on Saturday (Pic – Ascot Racecourse)
The deceased Harbour Watch, unbeaten in three starts and winner of the 2011 Gr2 Richmond Stakes, was produced by the well bred Woodman mare Gorband, who is closely related to the Woodman sired US champion, and Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Timber Country.
Gorband, one of a number of top-class broodmares sired by Woodman, also ranks as the dam of the Wilgerbosdrift-based mare Europa Point. The latter was a top-class performer on the track, winning nine of just 13 starts, including both the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes and Gr1 Champions Challenge -both in 2012.
Europa Point, who earned over R2.2 million in stakes and won her final six starts in a row, has subsequently produced three winners, including the four time winner Victoria Tower (Dynasty).
Europa Point (Anthony Delpech) is full of running to win the 2012 Gr1 President’s Champions Challenge
Harbour Watch’s third dam was none other than legendary broodmare Fall Aspen – the dam of four Gr1 winners including former South African champion sire Fort Wood.
The latter really made his presence felt at Kenilworth on Saturday, with Fort Wood’s star son Dynasty sire of the Gr3 Western Province Nomads Champagne Stakes winner Walk Of Fame. The Dynasty sired champion Legislate was responsible for Saturday’s Gr3 Econorisk Final Fling Stakes winner, So Flawless.
This is also the female line of South African sire, and Gr1 Secretariat Stakes winner Admiral Kitten -the sire of recent Gr1 Gold Medallion runner up Now I Got You, as well as champion US sire Cozzene, who is broodmare sire of outstanding sire Pivotal, as well as triple South African Gr1 winner Jackson, to name but two.
Pyledriver, whose twice winning dam La Pyle was sired by French Derby and late top sire Le Havre, is directly descended in female line from the remarkable mare Licata. The latter, seventh dam of Pyledriver, produced Gr1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Acamas (Mill Reef) and also Gr1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner, and successful sire, Akarad (Labus), and Arc heroine Akiyda (Labus).
Linngari (Indian Ridge (IRE) – Lidakiya (IRE))
Licata also features as the fifth dam of the versatile globetrotter Linngari (Indian Ridge).
The latter, whose half-sister Lidana (King’s Best) produced Gr1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Mont Ormel, as well as La Pyle’s Gr3 Park Express Stakes winning own sister Normandel, won 11 of 29 starts, with Linngari winning at the top level in both Italy and Germany. The chestnut also finished runner up in the Gr1 Prix de La Foret and third in the Gr1 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and Gr1 Cathay Hong Kong Cup.
Pyledriver is a direct descendant of the hugely influential mare Frizette, whose numerous outstanding descendants include Mr Prospector, Seattle Slew and Tourbillon, as well as in more recent times star sires Elusive Quality and Quality Road.
