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The Group One Robert Sangster Stakes, which has been won by some of Australia's best mares, has been renamed the Sportingbet Classic after Australia's biggest bookmaker agreed to back the race for the next three years.

The $300,000 Sportingbet Classic always attracts the highest quality fillies and mares from around the country with recent winners including Alinghi and Universal Queen.

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said he was excited to be supporting both the race and the industry in South Australia.

“This race has a tremendous history and I am sure the Sportingbet Classic will produce some more champions in the years to come,” Sullivan said.

“This is an extension of our already significant involvement with racing in South Australia and another example of our commitment to contribute to the long term growth of the racing industry.

“We are now sponsoring four Group 1 races in Victoria and South Australia as well as racing at all other levels from Saturday meetings to midweek and country racing.

“We have always said we want our contribution to racing to be about more than tax and we look forward to the day when we can support racing in all states of Australia.”

South Australia Jockey Club Sponsorship Manager Torrie Osborn said the deal was great news for the club and racing in South Australia.

“This is an extension of the deal we have with Sportingbet Australia and another positive step in the growth of racing in South Australia,” Osborn said.

“The Sportingbet Classic has a rich history of producing quality fields and the three year deal with Sportingbet should see us produce many more champions in the years to come.”

The inaugural Sportingbet Classic will be held on March 20 2010 as part of the South Australian Autumn carnival.