RV's Amy Zavros congratulates Briony Randle and Entourage after their Pope Cup win

©Angie Rickard

By James Tzaferis

Briony Randle’s decision to buy an unproven, six start maiden as a show horse prospect 12 months ago paid dividends at the Royal Melbourne Show when she partnered retired racehorse Entourage to victory in the Racing Victoria Col. A.V. Pope Cup.

One of the feature show horse classes at the Royal, the Pope Cup recognises thoroughbred qualities and Randle’s imposing six-year-old overcame a quality field of retired racehorses, including defending champion Mikimoto, 2014 Garryowen winner Chosen One and multiple Group 1-winning racehorse Sirmione.

A son of American stallion St Averill, Entourage raced as Rolling Paradise and was retired as a maiden after a six-start racing career for Gold Coast trainer Paula Baron.

Randle first laid eyes on the gelding at last year’s EKKA Show in Brisbane where, only weeks after retiring from the racetrack, Entourage was turning heads in the show ring.

“We saw him competing in the led thoroughbred classes at EKKA last year and as soon as I saw him step into the ring I fell in love with him,” Randle said.

“I was able to talk the owners into selling him to us and I brought him home from Brisbane last year.”

Entourage, who collected $1000 for his Pope Cup win, also took out his Open Hack Class (over 16.2hh) and was also awarded the Picasso Trophy as the best performed saddle horse across all classes at the Royal Melbourne Show.

A passionate advocate of thoroughbreds, Randle said the determination and striking looks that are so often found in Off the Track horses made them difficult for judges to overlook.

“Once you get a good thoroughbred, they just try so hard and this guy has come such a long way in 12 months because he just tries his heart of for me,” she said.

“They are beautiful looking animals and full of life.”

Although he was unable to defend the Pope Cup title he won 12 months ago, Michael Christie’s star gelding Mikimoto was named Champion Open Hack, having earlier claimed his Open Hack Class (over 15.2hh and not exceeding 16hh).

A son of Encosta De Lago, Mikomoto raced as Lago Force and won twice during a six-start career for Garry White and Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes.

Francesca Christie’s progressive mount Eye Of The Tiger, who was crowned Champion Novice Hack on Monday, was named Reserve Champion Open Hack.

A 63-start veteran on the track, Eye Of The Tiger raced as Relentless Lad and collected more than $157,000 for connections during stints in the racing stables of four trainers, including Graeme Rogerson and Phillip Stokes.

As part of its commitment to retired racehorses, Racing Victoria is providing $300 additional prizemoney to the riders of any Off the Track thoroughbreds that win a class at the 2015 Royal Melbourne Show.

A total of 95 retired racehorses are entered to compete across all classes at Melbourne this week, including the coveted Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout in which 28 of the 48 entries are retired racehorses.

Among them will be Victorian thoroughbred trainer Rachael Cunningham, the daughter of 1985 Garryowen winner Glenys Triffett, who will partner retired racehorse Da Vinci Code. Read her story here.

This article first appeared on the Racing Victoria website and is reprinted here with their kind permission. For more on the Off the Track program please visit  http://rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track