As one of the biggest Group One races of the year, the King Charles III Stakes always attracts some of the biggest racecourses to Randwick Racecourse. The race takes place during Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival and there is a whopping $5 million worth of prize money on the line.
King Charles III Stakes Tips, Best Bets, Odds, Field & More 2026
- King Charles III Stakes Quick Facts
- King Charles III Stakes Tips & Best Bets
- Top Betting Sites for the King Charles III Stakes
- Unibet
- Bet365
- EliteBet
- BetRight
- PlayUp
- King Charles III Stakes Betting Markets & Bet Types
- King Charles III Stakes Field & Form
- Best Odds for the King Charles III Stakes
- Latest King Charles III Stakes Results
- King Charles III Stakes Replay
- King Charles III Stakes Winners
- King Charles III Stakes FAQs
King Charles III Stakes Quick Facts
Before we go into detail about the King Charles III Stakes, here are some quick facts you should know:
| Date | Saturday 17th October, 2026 |
| Distance | 1,600 metres |
| Status | Group 1 |
| Track | Randwick Racecourse |
| Conditions | Weight-For-Age (WFA) |
| Prize Money | $5,000,000 |
| Latest Winner | Ceolwulf |
Key Details About the King Charles III Stakes
Until recently, the King Charles III Stakes was known as the George Main Stakes. George Main was the former chairman of the Australian Jockey Club and was also a breeder. The race also was previously run in mid-September, but was pushed back a couple of weeks and is now run on the same day as the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne.
The race was moved to its current position and the prize money was upgraded following the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. Previously, the prize money for the race was sitting at $1 million, now the race is worth a mammoth $5 million.
The first edition of the King Charles III Stakes was in 1945 when it was won by Modulation. From 1945 to 1978, the race was classified as a Principal race and then from 1979 onwards, it was reclassified as a Group One race.
One of the most commonly known winners of the King Charles III Stakes was Winx, who won the race three times in a row, from 2016 to 2018. The great mare usually used the King Charles III Stakes as a stepping stone to further riches during the Spring Racing Carnival, including the Cox Plate.
King Charles III Stakes Tips & Best Bets
The team at Australianbettingsites.net.au will provide King Charles III Stakes tips every year during race week after the final field has been announced. We actually provide daily horse racing tips and always cover some of the biggest races of the day, which would include the King Charles III Stakes.
Along with the King Charles III Stakes tips, we provide tips for other key races, like Melbourne Cup tips, Cox Plate tips and more. Our tips for the King Charles III Stakes are based on data and stats, using the form guide as a key point of reference and we review each runner’s chances of success in the race.
We want to ensure you have the best experience possible when betting on the King Charles III Stakes, so here are some recommended tips to follow:
- Previous Form - The recent form of each runner is important to analyse. However, you have to look deeper than just face value. For example, a runner might have finished down the order in their previous run, but if they were held up at a critical stage and then were storming home, it may be worth considering them.
- Explore Different Bet Types - We will talk about this more later on this page, but it is a good idea to explore your options when it comes to different bet types. Before you try something new, you should understand what’s involved. You may end up finding your new favourite bet type.
- Try New Betting Sites - New betting sites are always popping up in Australia and while it may be easy to stick with what you know, trying new sites can open up more in terms of promotions, and different odds among other things. It doesn’t hurt to have more options available to you.
- Don’t Overbet - Sometimes you can get caught in the heat of the moment and want to place bigger bets than you probably can. When it comes to betting, it is all about having a plan before you start and sticking with it. If you have $100 to spend on any given day, don’t go over that limit.
Top Betting Sites for the King Charles III Stakes
With so many options available in Australia, it can be difficult for those looking for a new betting site to choose. We have first-hand experience with pretty much every bookie in the market and have a shortlist of betting sites that are a good option for betting on the King Charles III Stakes.
Unibet
As one of the biggest international bookies, you may have already heard about Unibet. We consider them one of the best horse racing betting sites due to several different factors. Most importantly, we find that they have pretty competitive horse racing odds, which is a massive drawcard.
On top of this, you can livestream certain horse racing events and the form guide information for each race is extremely helpful. They also offer a range of horse racing promotions, so it’s easy to get your dollar to stretch just that little bit further. The design of their platform is fairly basic but it’s very easy to find what you’re looking for.
Bet365
Along with Unibet, Bet365 is one of the biggest online bookmakers in the world. The range of horse racing markets available at Bet365 has to be seen to be believed and they offer markets that you can’t get anywhere else. They also provide live streaming for select horse races, so there is the potential to watch the race you have just bet on.
You can set up alerts for races so you are notified when a certain race is about to start. You’ll also be pleased to know that they offer competitive horse racing odds and a great range of betting sites bonuses for you to take advantage of. The form guide information on Bet365 also provides runner comments, which can be helpful when making a betting decision.
EliteBet
One of the best features available with EliteBet is “Hot Bets”. With this feature, you can see tips from verified tipsters and check out their recent stats and results as well (i.e. if they are on a winning streak). This is available through the “Hot Bets” tab in the main menu or in each individual race market.
For each race, you can see fluctuations, speed maps and form information. The form guide information is pretty in-depth (it includes stats and recent results information) and you even can add runners to your blackbook for the future. They also offer a decent range of promotions that give more value back to bettors.
Bet Right
There’s a lot to like about Bet Right’s horse racing offering and they are comfortably one of the best bookies you can bet with for the King Charles III Stakes each year. Their racing highlights are a good recent addition as they provide quick insights about some of the key runners in each race.
On top of this, you can get personalised recommendations that help you find your favourite racing venues and runners. Their “Right Dividend Plus” gives you a better dividend compared to Sportsbet's TT+, Ladbrokes Best Tote and more. Also, on select races, Bet Right will pay place bets down to fourth position.
PlayUp
PlayUp is another bookie you should consider when betting on the King Charles III Stakes. They have one of the best betting apps going around as well, which is great if you’re on the go a lot. It is fast-loading and intuitively designed so it takes just a couple of taps to place your bets.
Their newly introduced “Easy Form” is a game changer, especially for those who are short on time, but still want to find the best runner in the race, without using horse racing tips. They have also recently introduced a “Live Yard” feature, that provides comments from the mounting yard about each runner, from an expert that is on the ground.
King Charles III Stakes Betting Markets & Bet Types
There’s no shortage of betting markets available for the King Charles III Stakes each year. It’s a good idea to have an understanding of what’s involved with each market, so you can expand your horizons and try different bet types.
We go through all the most common King Charles III Stakes betting markets here:
| Bet Type | Description |
| Win | This is where you place a bet on the horse you think will win the King Charles III Stakes. |
| Place | This is where you place a bet on the horse you think will finish top three in the King Charles III Stakes. |
| Each-Way | This is where you place essentially two bets of equal amounts on the same horse, one to win and another to finish top three in the King Charles III Stakes. |
| Exacta | This is where you place a bet on the two horses you think will finish in the top two in the King Charles III Stakes (in the correct order). |
| Quinella | This is where you place a bet on the two horses you think will finish in the top two in the King Charles III Stakes (in any order). |
| Trifecta | This is where you place a bet on the three horses you think will finish in the top three in the King Charles III Stakes (in the correct order). If you “box” your trifecta, your three chosen runners can finish in any order. |
| First Four | This is where you place a bet on the four horses you think will finish in the top four in the King Charles III Stakes (in the correct order). If you “box” your first four, your four chosen runners can finish in any order. |
| Quadrella (Quaddie) | This is where you place a bet on four horses you think will win the four predetermined races during the King Charles III Stakes race day. Adding more than four runners is possible and increases your chances of success. |
| Treble | This is where you place a bet on three horses you think will win the three predetermined races during the King Charles III Stakes race day. Adding more than three runners is possible and increases your chances of success. |
| Double | This is where you place a bet on four horses you think will win the two predetermined races during the King Charles III Stakes race day. Adding more than two runners is possible and increases your chances of success. |
King Charles III Stakes Field & Form
We always see a high-quality field announced for the King Charles III Stakes as runners fight it out for the lion’s share of the $5 million in prize money on offer. A couple of days before the race, the final field will be announced, along with the barrier draw.
In a race like the Kings Charles III Stakes, the barrier draw can have a fairly significant influence over race tactics and each runner's chance of success. Along with the barrier draw, it is a good idea to look into the form guide. This will provide valuable pieces of data that can potentially point you in the direction of the next winner.
All the runners that competed in the latest King Charles III Stakes include:
|
No. |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Barrier |
Weight |
|
1 |
MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) |
Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
Craig Williams |
12 |
59kg |
|
2 |
ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR) |
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
Tim Clark |
3 |
59kg |
|
3 |
CEOLWULF (NZ) |
Joseph Pride |
Chad Schofield |
4 |
59kg |
|
4 |
LAKE FOREST (GB) |
William Haggas |
Zac Purton |
2 |
59kg |
|
5 |
TOM KITTEN |
Anthony & Sam Freedman |
Ben Melham |
7 |
59kg |
|
6 |
PERICLES |
Bjorn Baker |
Joshua Parr |
5 |
59kg |
|
7 |
YELLOW BRICK |
Tony & Maddysen Sears |
Jason Collett |
10 |
59kg |
|
8 |
PIER (NZ) |
Darryn & Briar Weatherley |
Ethan Brown |
1 |
59kg |
|
9 |
EL CASTELLO |
Joseph Pride |
Adam Hyeronimus |
9 |
58kg |
|
10 |
FANGIRL |
Chris Waller |
James McDonald |
11 |
57kg |
|
11 |
PRIDE OF JENNI |
Ciaron Maher |
Declan Bates |
8 |
57kg |
|
12 |
WITHIN THE LAW |
Bjorn Baker |
Ms Rachel King |
6 |
48kg |
1
Horse
MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ)
Trainer
Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Jockey
Craig Williams
Barrier
12
Weight
59kg
2
Horse
ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR)
Trainer
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey
Tim Clark
Barrier
3
Weight
59kg
3
Horse
CEOLWULF (NZ)
Trainer
Joseph Pride
Jockey
Chad Schofield
Barrier
4
Weight
59kg
4
Horse
LAKE FOREST (GB)
Trainer
William Haggas
Jockey
Zac Purton
Barrier
2
Weight
59kg
5
Horse
TOM KITTEN
Trainer
Anthony & Sam Freedman
Jockey
Ben Melham
Barrier
7
Weight
59kg
6
Horse
PERICLES
Trainer
Bjorn Baker
Jockey
Joshua Parr
Barrier
5
Weight
59kg
7
Horse
YELLOW BRICK
Trainer
Tony & Maddysen Sears
Jockey
Jason Collett
Barrier
10
Weight
59kg
8
Horse
PIER (NZ)
Trainer
Darryn & Briar Weatherley
Jockey
Ethan Brown
Barrier
1
Weight
59kg
9
Horse
EL CASTELLO
Trainer
Joseph Pride
Jockey
Adam Hyeronimus
Barrier
9
Weight
58kg
10
Horse
FANGIRL
Trainer
Chris Waller
Jockey
James McDonald
Barrier
11
Weight
57kg
11
Horse
PRIDE OF JENNI
Trainer
Ciaron Maher
Jockey
Declan Bates
Barrier
8
Weight
57kg
12
Horse
WITHIN THE LAW
Trainer
Bjorn Baker
Jockey
Ms Rachel King
Barrier
6
Weight
48kg
Best Odds for the King Charles III Stakes
We always recommend you shop around for the best odds when it comes to the King Charles III Stakes. It is common to see different bookies offering different odds for the same markets, so by shopping around, you are ensuring you can pick up the best odds possible.
While it may not seem like a lot, over time it can really add up, especially if you tend to bet on markets with higher odds, as there is usually a bigger discrepancy in the odds. An easy way to find competitive odds is to use an odds comparison tool.
Sometimes the odds comparison tool won’t have all the bookies you like to compare, so a little bit of manual work may be required. The manual work shouldn’t take long and you could end up locking in some great odds, to get a better payout if your bet gets up.
If you’re a little short on time, it can pay to stick with bookies that have a reputation for offering competitive odds. Some bookies that we recommend you put on your shortlist include; Unibet, EliteBet and BetRight.
Latest King Charles III Stakes Results
It was a fairly open field for the King Charles III Stakes, and the 2024 winner, Ceolwulf, managed to complete the double here in 2025. Ceolwulf, who was paying $10 to take the win, ended up finishing 1.77L in front of Mr Brightside, who was the narrow favourite for this race.
After jumping from barrier one, Pier, who was paying a whopping $51 to win the King Charles III Stakes, finished in third place, 2.03L off the leader. One of the more favoured runners in the race, Lake Forest, finished dead last. For the 2025 King Charles III Stakes, the race was run in a time of 1:34.39, and there was a total of 7.17L that split the field.
Check out where each runner finished in the King Charles III Stakes here:
|
Finish |
No. |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Margin |
Barrier |
Weight |
|
1 |
3 |
CEOLWULF (NZ) |
Joseph Pride |
Chad Schofield |
- |
4 |
59kg |
|
2 |
1 |
MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) |
Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
Craig Williams |
1.77L |
12 |
59kg |
|
3 |
8 |
PIER (NZ) |
Darryn & Briar Weatherley |
Ethan Brown |
2.03L |
1 |
59kg |
|
4 |
6 |
PERICLES |
Bjorn Baker |
Joshua Parr |
2.13L |
5 |
59kg |
|
5 |
5 |
TOM KITTEN |
Anthony & Sam Freedman |
Ben Melham |
2.45L |
7 |
59kg |
|
6 |
10 |
FANGIRL |
Chris Waller |
James McDonald |
2.89L |
11 |
57kg |
|
7 |
11 |
PRIDE OF JENNI |
Ciaron Maher |
Declan Bates |
3L |
8 |
57kg |
|
8 |
7 |
YELLOW BRICK |
Tony & Maddysen Sears |
Jason Collett |
3.05L |
10 |
59kg |
|
9 |
12 |
WITHIN THE LAW |
Bjorn Baker |
Ms Rachel King |
3.36L |
6 |
48kg |
|
10 |
9 |
EL CASTELLO |
Joseph Pride |
Adam Hyeronimus |
3.69L |
9 |
58kg |
|
11 |
2 |
ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR) |
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
Tim Clark |
6.52L |
3 |
59kg |
|
12 |
4 |
LAKE FOREST (GB) |
William Haggas |
Zac Purton |
7.17L |
2 |
59kg |
1
No.
3
Horse
CEOLWULF (NZ)
Trainer
Joseph Pride
Jockey
Chad Schofield
Margin
-
Barrier
4
Weight
59kg
2
No.
1
Horse
MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ)
Trainer
Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Jockey
Craig Williams
Margin
1.77L
Barrier
12
Weight
59kg
3
No.
8
Horse
PIER (NZ)
Trainer
Darryn & Briar Weatherley
Jockey
Ethan Brown
Margin
2.03L
Barrier
1
Weight
59kg
4
No.
6
Horse
PERICLES
Trainer
Bjorn Baker
Jockey
Joshua Parr
Margin
2.13L
Barrier
5
Weight
59kg
5
No.
5
Horse
TOM KITTEN
Trainer
Anthony & Sam Freedman
Jockey
Ben Melham
Margin
2.45L
Barrier
7
Weight
59kg
6
No.
10
Horse
FANGIRL
Trainer
Chris Waller
Jockey
James McDonald
Margin
2.89L
Barrier
11
Weight
57kg
7
No.
11
Horse
PRIDE OF JENNI
Trainer
Ciaron Maher
Jockey
Declan Bates
Margin
3L
Barrier
8
Weight
57kg
8
No.
7
Horse
YELLOW BRICK
Trainer
Tony & Maddysen Sears
Jockey
Jason Collett
Margin
3.05L
Barrier
10
Weight
59kg
9
No.
12
Horse
WITHIN THE LAW
Trainer
Bjorn Baker
Jockey
Ms Rachel King
Margin
3.36L
Barrier
6
Weight
48kg
10
No.
9
Horse
EL CASTELLO
Trainer
Joseph Pride
Jockey
Adam Hyeronimus
Margin
3.69L
Barrier
9
Weight
58kg
11
No.
2
Horse
ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR)
Trainer
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey
Tim Clark
Margin
6.52L
Barrier
3
Weight
59kg
12
No.
4
Horse
LAKE FOREST (GB)
Trainer
William Haggas
Jockey
Zac Purton
Margin
7.17L
Barrier
2
Weight
59kg
King Charles III Stakes Replay
See how the King Charles III Stakes played out by watching the replay here:
King Charles III Stakes Winners
We have seen many high-quality runners grace the King Charles III Stakes honours board, including:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2025 | Ceolwulf | Chad Schofield | Joe Pride |
| 2024 | Ceolwulf | Chad Schofield | Joe Pride |
| 2023 | Fangirl | James McDonald | Chris Waller |
| 2022 | Anamoe | James McDonald | James Cummings |
| 2021 | Verry Elleegant | James McDonald | Chris Waller |
| 2020 | Kolding | Tommy Berry | Chris Waller |
| 2019 | Avilius | Kerrin McEvoy | James Cummings |
| 2018 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller |
| 2017 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller |
| 2016 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller |
| 2015 | Kermadec | Glyn Schofield | Chris Waller |
| 2014 | Sacred Falls | Zac Purton | Chris Waller |
| 2013 | Streama | Blake Shinn | Guy Walter |
| 2012 | Shoot Out | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller |
| 2011 | Sincero | Chris O'Brien | Stephen Farley |
| 2010 | More Joyous | Corey Brown | Gai Waterhouse |
King Charles III Stakes FAQs
If you still have some questions about the Kings Charles III Stakes, we can help you out. We have gone through some of the most commonly asked questions about the race and provided the answers in this section.
Where to bet on the King Charles III Stakes?
If you’re looking to bet on the King Charles III Stakes, you have a lot of options. Bookies like Unibet, EliteBet and BetRight have great racing-focused products for bettors.
Where is the King Charles III Stakes raced?
Each year, the King Charles III is raced at Randwick Racecourse.
How long is the King Charles III Stakes?
The King Charles III is raced over a distance of 1,600m every year.
What conditions are the King Charles III Stakes raced under?
The King Charles III is raced under Weight-For-Age (WFA) conditions.
How to get tickets for the King Charles III Stakes?
To get your hands on some tickets for King Charles III Stakes race day, we recommend you visit the Australian Turf Club website.
What is the prize money for the King Charles III Stakes?
For the King Charles III Stakes, runners are fighting it out for the lion’s share of the $5 million in prize money.
Where can I livestream the King Charles III Stakes?
There are a few live streaming options for the King Charles III Stakes, like free-to-air, Foxtel, Kayo and even through your bookie (if they offer live streaming as a product).
Which horses have won the King Charles III Stakes?
Some of the best horses have won the King Charles III Stakes, including Emancipation, Vo Rogue, Lonhro, More Joyous, Winx and Verry Elleegant.
Where to find the best King Charles III Stakes odds?
To get the best odds, you can use an odds comparison tool or do some manual work based on the bookies you want to bet with. Or, you could stick with bookies that have a reputation for consistently providing competitive odds.
Can I get horse racing tips for the King Charles III Stakes?
There are plenty of places you can pick up horse racing tips, like right here at Australian Betting Sites. We provide daily tips and best bets for all the key races, like the King Charles III Stakes.