Mt Barker Turf Club’s $100,000 sprint race in need of a new sponsor

Mt Barker Turf Club will have to find a new sponsor for the Great Southern’s biggest sprint race, with president Stephen Carter lamenting Mungrup Stud’s closure will be tough for the region to overcome. Mungrup Stud has been a major sponsor of the MBTC’s feature sprint, named the Mungrup Stud Sprint, for more than a decade. However, the news last week that Mungrup Stud, in Narrikup, will be shutting within three months leaves the MBTC sprint race without a sponsor. Carter said this week his club would hold a committee meeting in a fortnight, with finding a new sponsor for their $100,000 premier race on the agenda. “Mungrup have been a long-time sponsor of our big sprint,” Carter said. “We have a committee meeting in a fortnight where we will be discussing that race and we are certainly looking for a new sponsor.” The Mungrup Stud Sprint is the region’s top sprint race, with recent winners Reykjavik, Rebel King, Dream Lifter, Dawn Approach and Watermans Bay all competing at Group 1 level. Carter said Mungrup Stud had done an incredible job with its operation over the past 40 years. “It is a heck of a shame they are closing up,” he said. “As Gray (Williamson) said in his statement, they are getting out while they are on top after their recent success at the sales. It has a direct effect on employment in the Mt Barker region as well, and this will have a big impact on the region, no doubt. “Gray and Jan have been at it a long time and done a very good job, and all we can do is wish them all the very best in the future.” Leading Great Southern trainer Steve Wolfe said this week the region could ill afford to lose Mt Barker’s sprint race. “Mungrup have been a great ally to the Mt Barker Turf Club,” Wolfe said. “Where does this leave that club and their biggest race? We’ve already lost something from the Great Southern in Mungrup Stud, we can’t afford to lose a race of that nature as well.”