Rod Lyons might not have ownership in The Inflictor or Call Da Vinci, but he’ll be cheering them on in this weekend’s Group 1 races at Eagle Farm, given both are sons of his beloved Under The Louvre.
The 2016 Stradbroke Handicap winner is represented in the $3 million feature by The Inflictor, while two-year-old Call Da Vinci will contest the JJ Atkins (1600m).
These two gallopers mark the stallion’s first Group 1 runners, and Lyons is thrilled that it all comes full circle on a day that’s etched in his memory.
“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 retired with nine wins and major placings in races like the The Goodwood, Oakleigh Plate and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
His son The Inflictor, trained by Craig Cousins, has booked a Stradbroke start with an impressive Doomben victory over 1350m, following a third placing in a Listed race.
Call Da Vinci, who comes from a later crop, has a consistent record and was last seen finishing third in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
They join a growing list of Stakes performers by Under The Louvre, with Exotique Miss his only stakes winner to date.
The stallion has 171 career wins to his name, 57 coming this season. That puts him on track to better last year’s 61-race tally.
Allouvre, another of his progeny racing in Lyons’ colours, recently triumphed at Swan Hill, where Under The Louvre debuted back in the day.
“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 has drawn well and will be ridden by Cejay Graham at 51kg in the Stradbroke, priced at $15, while Call Da Vinci sits at $34 from gate 14 in the JJ Atkins with Zac Lloyd aboard.
