Call Da Vinci has BRC Sires' Produce odds slashed from $100 to $26 after Ipswich win on Wednesday
The Bevan Laming-trained Call Da Vinci ($4.20) wore down $1.90 favourite Navy Pilot, who overraced early and felt the strain of the 60kg topweight in the straight to finish runner-up, ahead of North Pole ($4.20), in the seven-horse race on a Heavy 8 track.
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'It was a good ride,' co-trainer Richard Laming said of apprentice Jaden Lloyd's steer in the 1350m race, which was shifted from the Sunshine Coast to Ipswich due to poor track conditions.
'It wasn't our plan but in hindsight it was good that the horse could sit off the speed, peel out and really put them away like he did.
'It was very good to see him be strong through the line like he was there today.'
The Hawkes team's colt Gallo Nero is the $4 favourite for the $1m BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday week at Eagle Farm.
Aerodrome ($6), Grafterburners ($8), Beksar and Cool Archie (both $11) are on the next line of betting.
Call Da Vinci franked the form out of the $300,000 Group 2 Spirit of Boom Classic (1200m) won by Cool Archie, who defeated classy colt Gallo Nero and fellow Queensland star sprinter Grafterburners.
A work of art! 🖼�
Call Da Vinci wins the Sacred Elixir Hcp at @IpswichTurfClub in style! @Laming_Racing pic.twitter.com/tCsMk4ku6U
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 21, 2025
• Shinn in emotional history-making Doomben Cup mission
He finished runner-up to the Chris and Corey Munce-trained Cool Archie in a 2YO maiden at Doomben on a heavy track on April 16.
'Well he keeps stepping up too – he's now a Listed winner and a Group 2 winner,' Laming said about Cool Archie.
'It's all strong form so it's good heading to where we're heading (the BTC Sires Produce).
'They had me on the radio this morning and I was nearly going to say 'we should be backing him (Call Da Vinci) now just in case he does win (in Ipswich)'.
'I'm pretty sure he won't be one hundreds. But he's got to pull up OK and it's only 10 days away.
'He's only a two-year-old and there's plenty of water to go under the bridge. He'll go back to the farm and be back in town next week for the water-walker and a bit of beach work.'
Bevan Laming also trained Call Da Vinci's mum Calzini, who was sired by Shamus Award.
Lloyd said Call Da Vinci had developed a habit of starting his races slowly but it didn't stop him on Wednesday against Ciaron Maher's well-backed favourite Navy Pilot.
'I didn't panic because I know the ability the horse has,' Lloyd said.
'I was quite happy to be on the back of the favourite because he (Call Da Vinci) is a better horse if he has something to chase.
'He's a tough horse. He's only small but he's very tenacious.'
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