The Sydney Royal Easter Show on Friday featured the major hacking classes of the show for thoroughbreds with the prestigious Pope Cup for geldings and Crane Trophy for mares decided with Darley boss Vin Cox the guest co- judge from the bloodstock world.
The Pope Cup was won by nine year-old Lonhro gelding Givenchy, who raced successfully as Data Point. He won two races and placing nine times from 24 starts earning over $150,000 on the track when trained by Mick Kent with his final race at Bendigo in 2018.
Ridden by Greg Micken for owner Sue Thompson, Givenchy was originally bred by Dean Fleming and started life not that far from the Easter Show at Tyreel Stud, when it was owned by the Fleming family.
He was bought by Dermot Farrington as a yearling at the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $245,000 and has quite a pedigree.
He is a half-brother to stakes-winner Ondina and his dam Mermaid Island is a stakes-placed half-sister to Group I winner Nightime, the dam of 2020 European Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath, who shuttled to Australia last spring for Darley.
The Crane Trophy for mares was won by Louise Refalo and DP Gisele, an 11 year-old Zizou mare that was bred by Ramsey Pastoral at Turangga Farm. Racing as She’s Amazing, she went on to two win two of 22 starts at the Gold Coast and Ballina with her last race in January 2016.
She is one of four winners from Group III winner Madame Shinko.
