Call Da Vinci has BRC Sires' Produce odds slashed from $100 to $26 after Ipswich win on Wednesday

News.com.au21-05-2025

Bookmakers have slashed the odds of gelding Call Da Vinci to win next week's Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes from $100 to $26 following his gutsy victory in the Sacred Elixir 2YO handicap (1350m) at Ipswich 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),ï»¿ 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! ðŸ–¼ï¸�
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
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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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Gorden Tallis slams Broncos' ‘disrespectful' Selwyn Cobbo move

News.com.au

3 hours ago

News.com.au

Gorden Tallis slams Broncos' ‘disrespectful' Selwyn Cobbo move

Gorden Tallis has criticised the Broncos for prioritising re-signing two veteran halfbacks over Selwyn Cobbo, who is potentially the future of the club. Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt will both play for the Broncos in 2026 in what looms as their final seasons in first grade, but at 23, Cobbo looks like being forced out of a club he doesn't want to leave. Tallis believes the Broncos have been disrespectful to Cobbo by not leaving enough funds in their salary cap to re-sign him. 'The Selwyn Cobbo one is a bit funny to me because I think he is the future of the club,' Tallis said on NRL 360. 'They have re-signed Kotoni Staggs. They have got two 35-year-old No.7's that they re-signed as a priority and they re-signed another hooker when they have got five. 'Then they have got this young talent and they leave $300,000, which I think is a little bit disrespectful for a State of Origin player and I don't think he has lost that much mojo. 'In my opinion when Reece Walsh was out and he went back to fullback, he kept them in a The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield believes Reynolds may have forced Cobbo out of the club. 'The interesting thing is Adam Reynolds said he would not sign a new deal until the other boys had because he didn't want to force anyone out, well he has,' Rothfield said. 'I'm not blaming him, but it was a difficult decision.' Rothfield revealed the Dragons were close to making a play for Cobbo and his asking price shows how far the Broncos are from keeping him. 'Selwyn Cobbo was in Sydney two weeks ago and he visited St George Illawarra and he spoke to coach Shane Flanagan,' Rothfield said. 'They were asking for about $650,000 to $700,000 and St George were quite keen to do a deal for a little bit less than that if they could get him this year because they have had injuries in the outside backs. 'I don't think it is going to happen, but what it does show is how far the Broncos are off the pace with what the kid and the manager are looking for. They are not even halfway there.' Braith Anasta added: 'Let's be honest they think they are still a chance of keeping him, but really they are not.' The Daily Telegraph's Brent Read believes the Broncos could find more room to up their offer to Cobbo, but the problem is his best form has been in a position they don't need him to play. 'Not unless they find another $200,000 or $300,000 and clubs can do that sometimes when they need to,' Read said. 'They can move a couple of blokes and juggle some funds around, but at the moment, I know he played well at fullback for a couple of games, but they don't need a fullback. 'They need him to play well when he is on the wing and he hasn't been playing well, so that's why he is in reserve grade and the kid who has come in Josiah Karapani is doing really well.' 'Maybe he is busted,' Tallis interjected. Rothfield believes Hunt is an interesting signing because he will be trying to break into the hooker rotation when he returns from injury. 'You talk about the old halves they signed and it is an interesting one with Ben Hunt because when he comes back from injury I don't think he is going to play five-eighth,' Rothfield said. 'Ezra Mam is comfortable there and he is obviously the future, so signing Hunt for those two years, not necessarily the Reynolds extension, might be what costs Selwyn Cobbo a spot at that club long-term.' However, Read believes the Broncos are eyeing Hunt as their hooker until Blake Mozer develops into his replacement in 2027. 'I think they are looking at their spine next year with Ben Hunt at hooker and he is a pretty good hooker Ben Hunt,' Read said. 'He is probably the best hooker they have got on their roster. Obviously Cory Paix is not killing it because they are not re-signing him. 'They have obviously made a decision that Ben Hunt will be their hooker and they have got young Blake Mozer on a long-term deal.' Tallis believes the Broncos may have been better off blooding young gun Coby Black at halfback, who led the Maroons to a win in the under 19s Origin last Thursday. 'It's nothing against the two 35-year-old halfbacks, but the future of the club are not two 35-year-old halfbacks,' Tallis said. 'Queensland won the State of Origin with a young 19-year-old halfback that could sit there and get some experience.' 'He will learn off those guys and at some point he will get an opportunity,' Read interjected. 'Yeah, but it is better playing,' Tallis countered. 'It is better getting a taste and you look at the Roosters with their young halves, there is no better way to learn than at the coalface.'