The $20 million Everest race might be the main focus at Royal Randwick on Saturday, but the third edition of the King Charles III Stakes shapes as an equally fascinating affair over the mile.
Proven Group 1 starts like Mr Brightside, Fangirl, and last year’s winner Ceolwulf make up the field of 12, while there’s a case to be made for a few at longer odds – despite only two winners over the last 20 years featuring a double-figure price tag.
A win for the short-priced Fangirl would not only secure Chris Waller’s 10th victory dating back to when the race was named the George Main Stakes, but also see her join former stablemate Winx as a multiple winner.
It’s one of the highlight races of the Sydney Spring Carnival each season, and below, you can find our thoughts on each horse, as well as our best betting strategy for the 2025 King Charles III Stakes!
Suggested Betting Strategy
- 2 Units No. 10 Fangirl (Win)
- 1 Unit No. 6 Pericles (Each-Way)
- First Four: 10, 6, 2, 11
1. Mr Brightside (12) – Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Odds: $4.80 (at time of publish)
This multiple Group 1 winner has been kept on ice after defying the market to beat home the short-priced Via Sistina in last month’s Makybe Diva Stakes, leading all the way to make every post a winner by a whopping 1.5 lengths.
Some were beginning to question whether he might be past it, but with two Group 1 wins to his name already this year to match a stunning 13 wins over the mile, there’s no question he’s up to the task on Saturday despite the wide gate.
In saying that, it’s going on two years since he last raced in Sydney, and it’s fair to wonder if he’ll have everything go his way this time in a deeper race with more early speed expected.
2. Royal Patronage (3) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Odds: $23 (at time of publish)
The Waterhouse/Bott-trained Royal Patronage found success at the top level to kick-start the autumn, winning the Canterbury Stakes over 1300m by a small margin over Here To Shock.
He was short of his best two weeks later in the George Ryder but then went on to finish a gallant second to Stefi Magnetica in the Doncaster, before a quick trip to Hong Kong where he ran second-last in the Champions Mile.
The Wootton Bassett entire appeared in need of the run first-up in the G3 Bill Ritchie three weeks ago, settling forward early but tiring late to finish midfield after making up early ground from a tricky gate.
He draws to receive all the favours this time though with Tim Clark retaining the ride, so he’s worth including in multiples to run a cheeky race.
3. Ceolwulf (4) – Joseph Pride
Odds: $10 (at time of publish)
Last year’s winner is back to defend his crown, although he’s hardly going as well as he was this time 12 months ago.
The five-year-old son of Tavistock has mixed his form this time in work, showing steady improvement two back for third in the 7 Stakes, before finishing over 3.5 lengths off Autumn Glow in the Epsom a fortnight ago where the wide gate and some late traffic problems were to blame.
At his best, he’s capable of winning this race again, but as anyone who’s backed him over the last six months would know, it’s tough to trust him on recent form.
4. Lake Forest (2) – William Haggas
Odds: $7.50 (at time of publish)
Beware the international… again?
William Haggas has sent over last year’s Golden Eagle winner for a second crack on Australian shores and boy has he run some big races over the last few months, highlighted by a last-start runner-up in a G1 at York in late August.
He’s got his sights on a potential Five Diamonds run on the 8th of November, but from a good gate with a solid first-up record, plus Zac Purton steering, a win here is certainly achievable.
5. Tom Kitten (7) – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Odds: $26 (at time of publish)
You can probably throw this guy in the same basket as Ceolwulf.
The five-year-old has suffered an interrupted campaign to this point, scratched last start at the barriers on the back of two disappointing efforts in the Makybe Diva Stakes first-up and the Feehan Stakes at The Valley.
He was originally on a Cox Plate path, but it appears the stable have pivoted to Sydney in the hopes of seeing some improvement.
We’ve seen so many flashes of potential this year, including an All-Star Mile win over Mr Brightside, plus a third to Via Sistina in the Queen Elizabeth. But until we see him turn a corner, it’s difficult to back him right now.
6. Pericles (5) – Bjorn Baker
Odds: $9.50 (at time of publish)
Impressive winner of the Tramway first-up, racing straight past Private Eye to put 1.2 lengths on the rest of the field.
He certainly lost no admirers when third to Autumn Glow in the Epsom nearly a month later, given a similar run from midfield where he hit full stride at the 200m mark to run on very well.
Goes around on Saturday on less of a turnaround, so expect natural improvement with barrier 5 offering Josh Parr the chance to adopt similar tactics. His third-up record has been mixed, but he could be over the odds all things considered.
7. Yellow Brick (10) – Tony & Maddysen Sears
Odds: $126 (at time of publish)
It’s been just over a year since Yellow Brick last tasted a win up in Brisbane.
He’s disappointed for a run twice in the Bill Ritchie and the Epsom this prep and isn’t going anywhere near well enough to threaten on Saturday.
8. Pier (1) – Daryn & Briar Weatherley
Odds: $31 (at time of publish)
This Kiwi-bred galloper has come in from $41, which is no real surprise given he’s been thereabouts in both runs this prep.
The six-year-old gelding by Proisir was third in the Theo Marks fresh from a spell, an encouraging effort after wrapping up his Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign with a stunning three-length win at Listed level.
He was sent around at double-figure odds in the Epsom two weeks ago from a sticky gate, settling in the top half of the field and only dropping back late to finish fifth in a blanket finish.
Hard to see him winning this race, but he’ll try his guts out up on the speed if he’s afforded a clear path from the inside alley this time.
9. El Castello (9) – Joseph Pride
Odds: $81 (at time of publish)
A stablemate to Ceolwulf who would need to raise the bar to another level to pull off something special on Saturday.
It was just under a year ago that he came out and saluted as the favourite as a 3YO in the Spring Champion Stakes, but from a wide gate off a nothing run int eh Epsom fresh from a spell, it’s no shock to find him at very long odds.
10. Fangirl (11) – Chris Waller
Odds: $3.90 (at time of publish)
Champion trainer Chris Waller has had a stranglehold on this race over the last decade, and this mighty mare by Sebring has a chance to join former stablemate Winx as a multiple winner.
Now a seven-year-old, she won this race two years ago before heading to Melbourne two weeks later for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, while luck was far from on her side last year when she just gave herself too much work to do, spotting the field nearly seven lengths early on.
Similar to Mr Brightside, many had written her off after a disappointing spring, but she proved her doubters wrong in the autumn when winning the Queen Of The Turf thanks to a stunning ride from James McDonald.
More recently, she’s come out and run fourth in the Epsom before timing her run to perfection down the centre of the straight to claim the 7 Stakes in a late dive for the line.
Off that, all reports from the stable suggest she’s going as well as she ever has, and with an impressive record over the mile, plus J-Mac back in the saddle, it’s really hard to knock her.
11. Pride Of Jenni (8) – Ciaron Maher
Odds: $4.20 (at time of publish)
We know what sort of race pattern she’ll follow, but is she really going well enough to trouble the likes of Fangirl?
In her defence, a stunning 1.75 length win over Treasurethe Moment in the Feehan Stakes last month is reason for optimism, but it’s hard to ignore some of her more disappointing efforts at the top level in recent times – running second-last in the Australian Cup, and third-last in the Doomben Cup earlier in the year.
On the plus side, she’s still got room for improvement second-up off a three-week break, but like a couple of others, her experience in Sydney is only limited. Then again, if Declan Bates keeps her restrained early and chooses to find the box seat like he did in the Feehan, there should be enough left in the tank to really challenge.
12. Within The Law (6) – Bjorn Baker
Odds: $20 (at time of publish)
Wins have been scarce, but she’s a filly who continues to give the stable and connections a bit of a thrill every time she lines up.
By Lucky Vega, this lightly-raced three-year-old has twice placed at Group 1 level this year, filling the minors in the Champagne Stakes over the Randwick mile in April, and then holding her own to give good chase for second in the Flight Stakes two weeks ago behind Apocalyptic.
Rachel King carrying just 48kg is the key to her chances as she presents rock-hard fit with four runs under her belt. Facing the older horses makes this a bigger test, but with a more genuine tempo expected in comparison to the Flight Stakes, she should be up on the speed early from barrier 6 and running another bold race.