Vale George Altomonte
Tributes are flowing for George Altomonte, the man who bred Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winners Sebring (More Than Ready) and Overreach (Exceed And Excel), after the death of the popular Corumbene Stud owner on Wednesday.
Sydney-based Altomonte, who established Corumbene Stud at Dunedoo in the NSW Central West more than 40 years ago, made his fortune in the motoring industry after founding Alto Group in 1956.
“George Altomonte will be greatly missed from Australian racing, having passed away today, surrounded by his loving family,” Hall Of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse wrote on social media platform X.
“I had a lovely friendship with George, admiring the way he conducted his life and his horse business. We enjoyed great success, winning the Golden Slipper with Overreach in 2013, a filly George bred and retained. George also bred another of my eight Slipper winners, Sebring. A truly great man & top breeder.”
Inglis’ Jonathan D’Arcy wrote: “Mr Altomonte will be remembered as one of our best breeders and most respected participants. Two Slipper winners, an Easter sale topper and a host of stakes performers from a small broodmare band. Our thoughts are with his family as we remember a life well lived.”
As well as breeding and selling 2008 Slipper winner Sebring and racing homebred filly Overreach to success in the world’s richest two-year-old race, Altomonte also bred and raced another high-class two-year-old filly in Wager (Flying Spur), runner-up in the 2004 Blue Diamond (Gr 1, 1200m) won by Alinghi (Encosta De Lago). The Waterhouse-trained Wager also finished runner-up to her stablemate Dance Hero (Danzero) in that year’s Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).
More recently, Altomonte bred and raced Group 1-placed colt Menari (Snitzel) and Group 2 winner and resident Corumbene stallion Standout (Exceed And Excel). He also bred Swettenham Stud’s first season Group 2-winning and multiple Group 1-placed sire Lofty Strike (Snitzel).
His son Anthony, who now runs Alto Group, bought Invermein Stud at Scone last year and he is in the process of relocating Corumbene Stud’s thoroughbreds to the Hunter Valley farm Anthony’s son Tommy has taken a keen interest in George’s pastime of racing and breeding.
Anthony Altomote told ANZ Bloodstock News last month: “If you’re staying in the horse breeding business you’ve got to be in Scone.
“Horses are one of those things you’ve got to be passionate about and Tommy, my son, is really into it and very passionate about it. With Tommy showing so much interest in it we thought that if it’s going to go for another generation we should buy something in Scone and set him up properly.”
In 2004, George Altomonte was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership and service to the motor industry.