William Muir, the trainer who won the 2022 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Pyledriver, has declared that newcomer Breacher is the best horse he has ever trained after a winning debut at Salisbury.
Debut Victory at Salisbury
Breacher, a son of Cracksman, contested a 7-furlong maiden at Salisbury on 30 June 2026, starting at odds of 12-1. He faced the odds-on favourite Squadron, a son of Frankel trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Colin Keane. Squadron took the lead but was joined and passed by Breacher, who won by two and a half lengths.
This victory made Breacher only the fifth winner of the year for the Muir and Grassick stable.
Muir's High Praise
Muir did not hide his opinion of the newcomer. "My horses have just been out of sorts a bit and we can't put our finger on it," he said. "You can run them and then they run bad and their bloods are wrong the next day. This horse wasn't right and I withdrew him from his other race. His blood was okay two days ago so we said we had to go. He's the best I've ever had."
Comparison with Pyledriver
Pyledriver, who Muir trained in partnership with Chris Grassick, announced himself with a first-time-out success at Salisbury in July 2019 at odds of 50-1. The middle-distance champion went on to win over £1 million in prize-money, including two wins at Royal Ascot, the Group 1 Coronation Cup, and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where he beat Arc winner Torquator Tasso.
Muir compared Breacher's ability to that of his previous star. "This horse worked with Ebt's Guard off level and went away from him before the Hunt Cup," Muir explained. Ebt's Guard is a 104-rated older horse who finished fourth in the Royal Hunt Cup earlier in June 2026.
Owner's Background
Muir added: "I said coming here if this runs like he gallops they won't beat him. I don't care what's in the race, they won't beat him. He works like a proper good horse. Rob Haim has been one of my first owners. He bred him and he didn't get accepted into any of the sales. I hope he's top class for him because he deserves it."
