April 7, 2016
One of the world’s largest thoroughbred breeding and racing operations – Coolmore – has further extended its long-term partnership with the Australian Turf Club and The Championships at Royal Randwick, including taking naming rights to another Group 1 event.
Coolmore has signed a new long-term deal with the Australian Turf Club, which will include naming rights to a second Group 1 race over the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The ATC and Coolmore extended the partnership following the emergence of The Championships, a racing event which in just two years has rapidly gained international recognition as the Grand Finals of Australian racing.
Coolmore has now taken naming rights to the $1 million Group 1 Coolmore Legacy Stakes, formerly known as the Queen of the Turf Stakes, to be run over 1600m at Royal Randwick on The Championships Day 2 on 9 April.
The $1 million race is run at weight for age for fillies and mares aged three years and upwards.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Officer Darren Pearce said the ATC was thrilled to partner with an internationally recognised organisation such as Coolmore.
“Sydney racing is now broadcast into 53 countries globally and our association with Coolmore under this new deal will extend our partnership beyond 20 years,’’ Mr Pearce said.
“The Championships are a major racing and destination event of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, and Royal Randwick along with Rosehill Gardens provide world class racing and facilities for all of our customers and sponsors such as Coolmore.’’
Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said: “We are very excited to be part of The Championships, which are an international showcase for the Australian thoroughbred.
“Our association with ATC has been a very positive one for 20years and we are delighted to extend our partnership as we look forward to a bright future for racing in Sydney.’’
The partnership between the ATC and Coolmore already stretches back to 1996 when Coolmore took the naming rights to the Coolmore Classic, a Group One event for fillies and mares at Rosehill Gardens.
The Coolmore Classic is run under set weight conditions over a distance of 1500m and carries total prizemoney of A$600,000.
The support of the Coolmore Classic is the second longest continuous race sponsorship of an ATC race after the Ranvet Stakes.