Under-estimated sire chases G1 glory in the Stradbroke Handicap and JJ Atkins Stakes
Rod Lyons won’t have a runner of his own in Saturday’s Group 1s at Eagle Farm, but he’ll have every reason to be invested with The Inflictor and Call Da Vinci both flying the flag for Under The Louvre.
Under The Louvre was Lyons’ pride and joy when he captured the 2016 Stradbroke Handicap. Now, his sons aim to leave their own mark on the same stage.
The Inflictor tackles the Stradbroke, while juvenile Call Da Vinci heads to the JJ Atkins (1600m), both becoming their sire’s first Group 1 starters.
“He was a good honest horse who gave his all,” Lyons said.
“He was a backmarker and there was a couple of races that he probably should have won but being a backmarker (he didn’t).
“He was an honest horse with an electric turn of foot when he was right.
“Stradbroke day was fantastic. A whole gang of us went up there, it was just a wonderful day and a very exciting win.”
Under The Louvre also placed in the The Goodwood, Oakleigh Plate, and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before retiring to Grandview Stud.
The Inflictor, a third-crop product, has six wins and earned his Stradbroke spot with a strong Doomben success following a Listed placing at the Gold Coast.
Call Da Vinci, trained by Bevan Laming, has posted two wins and two placings from four starts, most recently running third in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Under The Louvre now boasts four Stakes performers and a stakes winner in Exotique Miss. He’s sired 171 winners to date – including 57 this season – and is on track for a personal best tally.
Allouvre, another of his offspring, also gave Lyons joy last weekend with a Swan Hill win, the same venue where Under The Louvre began his career.
“Most of the mares he’s had hadn’t been the greatest of pedigrees and he’s managed still to win a lot of races and now have a couple of runners in Group Ones,” Lyons said.
The Inflictor is rated a $15 Stradbroke contender under 51kg with Cejay Graham aboard, while Call Da Vinci is $34 in JJ Atkins betting with Zac Lloyd from gate 14.
More Racing News
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...