Hot on the heels of a recent prizemoney increase for the Goulburn Cup, the Goulburn District Race Club has added further prestige to its feature day with the announcement of a new racing and breeding partnership with Spendthrift Australia.
The club is thrilled to announce that Spendthrift Australia have secured naming rights to the "Guy Walter" Fillies and Mares' Race on Goulburn Cup Day.
The "Guy Walter" is the major support race to the feature on Goulburn Cup day and is a 'girls only' Benchmark 70 race run over 1300m.
As an emerging stud with four stallions on its books, Spendthrift will offer winning connections of the "Guy Walter" a stallion service of their choice. The winning owners will be entitled to a complimentary nomination to any of the four Spendthrift stallions including Hampton Court, Jimmy Creed, Swear and Warrior's Reward.
Goulburn Race Club CEO Robyn Fife believes the symmetry of the partnership is an ideal fit for the club and its new partner, Spendthrift Australia.
"This is the fourth year we have held the Guy Walter Fillies and Mares' race on Cup day and we warmly welcome Spendthrift's involvement in the most prestigious day of racing on our calendar," Fife said.
"The relatively short time Goulburn Race Club worked with Guy Walter was easily outweighed by the long-standing influence he had on the club and those who got to know him. This race is about recognition of that legacy.
"Guy had a unique affinity with all the horses he trained but had a particular knack for getting the best out of fillies and mares with group performing horses like Streama, Bernicia and Appearance some of the more recent examples."
Spendthrift Australia General Manager Garry Cuddy echoed those sentiments in co-announcing the partnership between his organisation and the Goulburn District Race Club.
"We are thrilled to be working with the Goulburn District Race Club and most importantly have an association with honouring one of racing's true gentlemen in Mr. Walter," Cuddy said.
"Spendthrift Australia is entering its third season of operation and continues to strengthen its ties with key aspects of the local thoroughbred industry and this partnership is further evidence of that."
This year's Goulburn Cup meeting is scheduled for Sunday November 26, with the main event now offering a purse of $150,000.