As the owner of Tie The Knot, Sandy Tait marvelled at the horse's feats and perhaps even more so, at those of his trainer Guy Walter.

Tait has been as shocked as anyone by the sudden death on Thursday of Walter, a man he says was the perfect trainer and friend.

"It's not fair," Tait said. "Guy deserved to keep going until it was time to move on to a quieter period in his life.

"He demanded a lot of himself and as his owners we are the ones who have benefited.

"We have had a magic carpet ride especially with Tie The Knot and it's because of Guy."

The Tait family is steeped in racing from the deeds of horses like Cabechon and Baguette and Sandy and his sister Jill Nivison carried on the tradition with Tie The Knot, a son of Oaks winner Whisked.

In Walter's care Tie The Knot won 13 Group One races, as many as Sunline and only bettered by Kingston Town and Black Caviar.

"It was the foundation he gave his horses that showed his brilliance," Tait said.

"Wild Iris was a maiden eight weeks before she won the Oaks.

"And Zanbagh was a maiden four weeks before she ran second in the VRC Oaks last year.

"Horse training is hard. It's demanding and full of challenges.

"Guy was a driven person. In 20 years I think there might have been two occasions when he wasn't at the races when the horses were running whether it be at Goulburn or Nowra - wherever it was."

Tait said he and his wife Kathy also enjoyed spending time away from the track with Walter.

"Guy was a great story teller. He talked about his days with Bart and what he learned there.

"He could take an ordinary story and make it extraordinary.

"Kathy and I are devastated by what has happened and we have some wonderful memories."

Although he was known for his patience in developing middle distance and staying horses, Walter's versatility was underlined by the deeds of outstanding sprinting mare Spinning Hill, the winner of three Group One races sporting the Tait family's famous red silks.