Retired racehorse Mikimoto continued his nationwide dominance of Australia’s feature agricultural show rings last Wednesday with victory in one of the Royal Melbourne Show’s most popular show horse events, the Col. A.V. Pope Cup.

 

Ridden by Michael Christie, the 10-year-old was turned out beautifully and executed a perfect workout to add the Pope Cup trophy to a mantelpiece that already boasts silverware from this year’s Royal Shows at Canberra, Sydney and Adelaide.

 

Topping off a stellar season Mikimoto was also presented the Picasso Trophy awarded to the best performed Show Hack at the Royal Melbourne Show.

 

A son of Encosta De Lago, Mikimoto raced as Lago Force for the powerful Hawkes stable before finishing his career in the care of Hawkesbury trainer Garry White.

 

While he won two races and more than $20,000 on the track, Christie has no doubt that it’s in the show ring where the elegant bay gelding is at his best.

 

“We have been very lucky with him, we have won Champion at Canberra Royal, Sydney Royal, Adelaide Royal last week and won the Pope Cup here at Melbourne today. We really can’t complain he’s a top horse, said Christie.

 

“This fellow raced, he won two races and he’s by the really good sire Encosta De Lago.

 

"He was left as a stallion until he was five because they thought he would stand at stud but he didn’t quite get to that in his racing career. Now he’s a very successful Show Horse so we are happy.”

 

Sponsored by Racing Victoria’s Off the Track program, the Pope Cup recognises thoroughbred qualities and saw a record number of entries from horses that had either raced or trialled on the track in their previous career.

 

Racing Victoria’s Equine Welfare Officer, Cara Kavanagh, labelled the event “the Cox Plate” of the show ring and was thrilled with the quality of the start list that included Group 1 winner Sirmione, former country cups king Bourbon Street and 2013 Garryowen winner WS Coast.

 

“It was a thrill to see so many talented retired racehorses in the ring, not only in the Pope Cup, but right across the full program of events at the Royal Melbourne Show,” Kavanagh said.

 

“The proof is in the results which have once again shown why thoroughbreds are the undisputed breed of choice when it comes to success in the show ring.”

 

Earlier in the day, former Tony Noonan-trained gelding Chosen One led home a thoroughbred domination in the coveted Garryowen, with five of the top six placings occupied by retired racehorses.

 

Ridden by Shae Hanger, Chosen One edged out $850,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase SLM Orlando for Stephanie Barrinton, with Medal Of Honour gelding DP Amazing (fourth), former Glenn Thornton-trained The Russian (fifth) and Montilla (sixth), a flashy son of Don Eduardo, also catching the judges’ eye.

 

Other winners at the Show included Syenna Vasilopoulos and her retired racehorse High Fashion (Rosie Glow) who won Champion Child's Hack and the K.G. Luke Equestrian Turnout, and Stephanie Barrington and SLM Orlando (Ingleby) who won the John Lithgow Equestrienne Turnout and Reserve Champion Show Hack.

 

It wouldn’t have been a Royal Show without Abby Heffer and Pink I Am (Belinda Loves Pink) and Samantha McMaster and DP Destiny (Tembella) winning blue ribbons in the Show Hunter ring.  Pink I Am awarded Best Novice Show Hunter Hack and DP Destiny Ladies Show Hunter Hack.  

 

Full results can be found here.