King Charles III Stakes Tips, Betting, Odds, Horses & More 2024

Mark your calendars for the King Charles III Stakes, a thrilling feature race that is sure to get your heart pumping. This high-stakes race, formerly known as the George Main Stakes, will take place at the iconic Royal Randwick Racecourse. 

The distance to be covered by the competing horses is 1600m, raced under weight-for-age conditions, making the event a true test of strength and speed. Recognised as a Group 1 race, it boasts a whopping prize money pool of $5,000,000. 

The race has a rich history, with its first run dating back to 1945 as the George Main Stakes and it entered a new era in 2023, being run as the King Charles III Stakes for the first time. The race will take place on The Everest Day and there are two other key races on the same day at Randwick, The Kosciuszko and The Silver Eagle.

With all this epic racing on the same day at the same track, it’s no wonder that many people flock to one of the top tracks in the country, Randwick Racecourse. On top of this, the Caulfield Cup is also raced on the same day at Caulfield Racecourse.

The race was recently rescheduled from its usual slot in September to mid-October for the 2023 edition, making it a part of Randwick's The Everest Day race line-up. Also in 2023, the race marked the first official instance of the King Charles III Stakes replacing the George Main Stakes, boasting $5 million in stakes, thus making it the richest weight-for-age 1,600m race globally. 

OnlyRacing.com.au covers all the important information you need to know about the King Charles III Stakes. From tips to results and everything in between, no matter what you want to learn about the race, we’ve got you covered! We also update this page regularly, so you always have the most up-to-date information.

First place walks away with the lion’s share of the $5 million and prize money is paid all the way down to 12th place. For the full prize money allocation check out the table below:

Would you like some horse racing tips? Of course, you would! OnlyRacing’s experts crunch the numbers each year for the King Charles III Stakes and provide their best bet, next best and best roughie for the race. On top of this, we also provide general weekly horse racing tips, so there’s always something going on here at OnlyRacing.

For the King Charles III Stakes in 2024, our expert horse racing tips aren’t available yet. Why? Our experts are waiting until race week when the final field is confirmed, so they have all the necessary information. Our experts use multiple sources of information to ensure they provide some of the best tips going around.

King Charles III Stakes Best Bet - Mr Brightside

It’s a clear two-horse race, according to the betting market and I tend to agree. So, it comes down to Mr Brightside and Fangirl. I simply cannot go past Mr Brightside. He just keeps on getting better, if that is even possible! He comes into the King Charles III Stakes on a winning streak, with five wins under his belt (three of those at Group 1 level).

He won the All Star Mile in Autumn as well. Is there anything that Mr Brightside can’t do? He loves Randwick and the weight-for-age conditions suit him perfectly. Look for him to settle midfield and he should have plenty in the tank in the closing stages of the race. Craig Williams gets the ride and Mr Brightside jumps from barrier eight.

King Charles III Stakes Next Best - Fangirl

I really do think the market has it right for the King Charles III Stakes so that puts the second favourite in betting, Fangirl, as my next best for the race on Saturday. If anything goes wrong with Mr Brightside, Fangirl is the one I think can swoop in and get the chocolates.

She is currently listed at odds of $5.50, which I think is pretty good value, so I may have a little dabble on her to win, just in case! Her recent form allows me to dream that she can really give Mr Brightside a run for his money. She’s fresh for this one and gets a kind draw. If things go her way, she could very well win this. 

King Charles III Stakes Best Roughie - My Oberon

Going a little left of field with my best roughie for the King Charles III Stakes, but I think My Oberon can run a really good race at a massive price. If you look at his form on paper, you would probably consider putting me in a mental ward, but I think he is going a lot better than what that piece of paper says!

Yes, he hasn’t been winning. But, he hasn’t been losing by that much, beaten by 2L in his three runs so far this prep, which includes the Epsom Handicap. I don’t think he’ll win this one either, but if he can run just 2L behind the winner, that may well be good enough for third place. His odds to place are $9.00! Barrier three means he’ll start the race the way he wants.

Don’t forget that our 2024 King Charles III Stakes tips will be available during race week, so come back soon! 

Betting on the King Charles III Stakes, along with other Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse races, presents a chance to demonstrate your racing acumen. Ranging from the simple Fixed Win or Place market selections to the more intricate exotic bets, the options are wide-ranging. 

Regardless of whether your preference is multis, exotics, or honing in on specific jockeys or top bets of the day, our extensive guide will arm you with the necessary knowledge to make well-informed betting choices. The King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse is poised to be a thrilling Group 1 race.

In this section, we can certainly offer some guidance on choosing the best bookmaker for placing your bets. The task of selecting one of the best Australian betting sites can be quite daunting, but we aim to simplify it by recommending several trustworthy options. 

One key aspect to keep in mind when choosing a bookmaker is the odds they provide. This may necessitate some effort – visiting different horse racing betting apps and comparing the odds they offer for your chosen market. This process will help you identify the bookie offering the most favourable odds. 

By opting for the bookmaker with the highest odds, you stand to maximise your potential return. For a comprehensive list of Australian bookmakers that cover Group 1 thoroughbred horse racing markets, please refer to our bookmaker reviews page. Some of the bookies we have reviews on include; PlayUp, BetRoyale and SterlingParker.

Your comfort level with a particular bookmaker also matters. Many Australian punters prefer sticking with bookmakers they are familiar with, be it due to the app or website they frequent. Our bookmaker reviews page gives you an insight into each bookie's reliability, aiding you in making an informed choice.

Racing promotions also weigh heavily in the bookmaker selection process. Our OnlyRacing promotions page displays various bonuses and promotions offered by Australian bookmakers. Check for any specific promotions related to the King Charles III Stakes.

There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to selecting a bookmaker for the King Charles III Stakes. The above-mentioned tips are all valid considerations. However, it's imperative to choose a reliable bookmaker and provide any required verification details before betting. 

As soon as the 2024 King Charles III Stakes field information is available, we will bring it to you. The final field is usually announced during race week and if history is anything to bank on, we are going to see a stellar lineup of both Australian and international gallopers. 

Well before the field is announced, bookies will open up Fixed Win and Place markets for the race. This means that if you want to get a look at the runners that could potentially make it into the field, you can! All the more favoured runners in the market will be listed and those runners are quite possibly targeting the King Charles III Stakes.

Before the 2024 field gets confirmed, check out the table below to see which runners lined up for the King Charles III Stakes in 2023:

For the King Charles III Stakes in 2023, we saw a field of 16 confirmed, with no emergencies. In the end, we saw two pre-race scratchings with both Democracy Manifest and Zaaki being pulled from the race. This resulted in the field being dropped to 14 runners fighting it out for the lion’s share of the $5 million in prize money on offer.

If you haven’t been around the world of horse racing for very long, it’s important to note that scratchings happen quite regularly. There are many reasons why a runner might be scratched for a race and we see scratchings in even the biggest races of the year, like the King Charles III Stakes.

On top of scratchings, something else you need to pay attention to when looking at the final field is the barrier draw. Before the race, each runner is randomly drawn a barrier and this can play a fairly significant role in how the race unfolds. Some barriers have seen more success than others, so connections want to draw a barrier with more historical success.

With a race like the King Charles III Stakes, there is plenty of data and statistics to look into because the race has been running for a long time. If you don’t have the time or know-how to put together the King Charles III Stakes form guide yourself, then you have come to the right place. We do all the work for you, so you don’t even have to lift a finger.

Over the years, some key patterns have emerged and those patterns can help point you in the direction of a winner. If you’re the kind of person who wants to bet with their head and not their heart, keep reading below to find out some of the key form indicators that we’ve found!

For the King Charles III Stakes, finding key form indicators has proven to be a little difficult because there has been a recent shift in the race date. However, we have still done our best and there’s plenty of recent data to look into. If you’re checking the best lead-up races, the 7 Stakes and the Epsom Handicap are worth looking into.

Thanks to the prestige and prize money attached to the King Charles III Stakes, we almost always see a high-quality field, with many runners already proven under WFA conditions. As this is a mid-season race, the WFA conditions usually work in the favour of younger horses and this means you should consider 3YOs running in the race.

Despite this, the most successful age group appears to be 5YOs. Since 2000, we have seen 10 5YOs go on to win the King Charles III Stakes. As well as this, it’s a good idea to look for runners who have had previous success in a Group 1. In the last 17 years, 16 winners had previously won a Group 1 before taking out the King Charles III Stakes.

Favourites have had a lot of success in the race recently. Since 2010, we have seen 11 winners jump as the favourite for the King Charles III Stakes. On top of this, in the last 20 years, there have only been two winners who have jumped with double-digit odds. So, even if the favourite doesn’t win, the runner is more favoured in the market.

It’s also probably a good idea to steer clear of mares unless they are in a class of their own. The only mares to claim victory in the King Charles III Stakes in the last 22 years include the likes of More Joyous, Streama, Winx, Verry Elleegant and Fangirl

As you probably already know by now, the King Charles III Stakes has been around for a while now. This means that over the years, we have seen some of the best-ever horses compete in the race. Only the best of the best can go on to win the race and this section is dedicated to those King Charles III Stakes horses.

So, which horses have made the cut? Well, it wasn’t easy, but we have narrowed it down to just a handful of horses to feature here. We talk more about each of the best horses, including some of the other key races they have won in their career, their awards and achievements as well.

Shannon - 1946 & 1947

The first multiple winner of the King Charles III Stakes, Shannon won the race in 1946 and 1947. The stallion finished his career with a record of 44: 20-8-7 and this included victories in Group One races like the Epsom Handicap, the  Canterbury Stakes and the Inglis Sires Produce Stakes. 

Kingston Town - 1981 & 1982

Another two-time winner of the King Charles III Stakes, Kingston Town won the race in 1981 and 1982. The 1980 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year has also been inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame and has a Group 1 race named after him, the Kingston Town Classic, which is raced each year at Ascot Racecourse.

Lonhro - 2003

The 2004 Australian Racehorse of the Year, Lonhro finished his career with a record of 35:26-3-2 and almost $6 million in prize money in the bank. Some of the biggest races he won throughout his career included the likes of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Australian Cup, the Caulfield Stakes and the CF Orr Stakes.

More Joyous - 2010

One of the best mares going around at the time, More Joyous won the 2010 King Charles III Stakes. In total, she won eight Group 1 races, for an overall career record of 30:21-0-2 and over $4 million worth of prize money. Some of the biggest races she won included; the Doncaster Mile, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Toorak Handicap.

Winx - 2016-2018

Much like many of the races Winx won throughout her career, she won the King Charles III Stakes on multiple occasions. Winx transcended horse racing and people who weren’t even interested in the industry know who Winx is. She even has a grandstand at Randwick Racecourse named after her, along with an Australian Post-issued stamp!

Before you finalise any bets for the King Charles III Stakes, it’s important you check out the odds. There will be different odds for different runners/ markets available and the lower the odds, the more chance of that runner being successful. However, remember that anything can happen in horse racing and even the heavy favourite can get rolled sometimes.

So, what market should you bet on? Well, that really comes down to your knowledge and what you feel comfortable with. If you haven’t been around the horse racing industry for a while, it is best to stick with some of the simpler horse racing markets, like the Fixed Win and Place market.

The initial King Charles III Stakes odds market has already been released by our favourite bookie at the moment, PlayUp. This means that if you’ve already got a hot tip for the race, you can get your bets on now! Remember, that the odds will be constantly changing, so if you see a price you like the look of, better to strike while the iron is hot.

It is also a good idea to check what stage the market is listed in. If you see the market is listed as “Before Noms” then this is a good time to place your bets as you’ll get your stake back if your chosen runner doesn’t make the final field. You won’t be awarded such luxury if the market is listed as “All-In”.

Check out the odds for all the more favoured runners currently in the market below:

*Odds correct as of late May.

The King Charles III Stakes, which was formerly known as the George Main Stakes, was initially named in honour of George Main, an esteemed chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, racehorse breeder, and sheep runner. The renaming of the race occurred in 2023 as a tribute to His Majesty King Charles III.

This historic race, first run in 1945, was won by Modulation. Since then, several horses have had the distinction of winning the race multiple times, with such champions as Kingston Town (1981 & 1982), Regal Rhythm (1967 & 1968), Count Radiant (1964 & 1965) and Shannon (1946 & 1947). 

During the 2011 edition, the race was temporarily relocated to Rosehill and run over 1,500m due to ongoing construction at Randwick. The King Charles III Stakes takes place each year during Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival, which many consider to be one of the best horse racing carnivals of the year.

In 2017, the exceptional mare Winx clinched her second consecutive victory in the race, becoming the shortest-priced favourite to win at odds of $1.12. Winx's reign continued into 2018, when she scored a third successive win, leaving only six competitors behind, with the nearest, Le Romain, trailing by four lengths!

The race was first run as a Principal event but was upgraded to Group 1 status in 1979. It probably comes as no shock to people to learn that Winx currently holds the race record of the King Charles III Stakes, with a time of 1:33.65.

Each year, those who weren’t lucky enough to watch the King Charles III Stakes live will be searching online for the results of the race. If this is you, or you just want to relive all the action from the latest race, we’ve got you sorted. We have all the King Charles III Stakes you’ve been searching for!

The 2023 King Charles III Stakes was taken out by the second favourite, Fangirl. Fangirl was coming into the King Charles III Stakes fresh and won the race by 2.8L. Mr Brightside, who was the pre-race favourite, just didn’t have the speed to go with Fangirl in the closing stages of the race and finished in second place.

My Oberon held on bravely for third place, after drawing a friendly barrier and finished 3L off the leader. In 2023, we saw the race run in a time of 1:33.79 and there was just 6.38L that separated the first and last runner across the finishing post.

Check out the complete King Charles III Stakes results below:

Want to watch how the race unfolded for each of the runners? Check out the full race replay of the King Charles III Stakes below:

The King Charles III Stakes has been around for many years now and while we don’t have every single winner listed here, we have all the most recent ones! Check out all the details in the table below:

Do you have any last-minute questions about the King Charles III Stakes? Well, we have put together this King Charles III Stakes FAQs section, which answers all the most common questions people have about the race. Hopefully, you’ll find what you are looking for below: