Looking for this year’s King Charles III Stakes betting odds and tips on the race formerly known as the George Main Stakes? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know on the race.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 King Charles III Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
- #5 Autumn Glow
- #1 Ceolwulf
- #3 Just Folk
The 2026 King Charles III Stakes results saw superstar mare Autumn Glow prove why she started one of the shortest-priced favourites of the spring, delivering a dominant performance in the Group 1 mile feature at Randwick just hours after punters watched fellow odds-on elect Ka Ying Rising suffer a shock defeat in The Everest. The Chris Waller-trained daughter of The Autumn Sun justified her $1.26 quote with a devastating 2¼-length victory over dual defending champion Ceolwulf, while veteran campaigner Just Folk finished a further 7½ lengths away in third. Ridden by James McDonald, Autumn Glow enjoyed a perfect run before accelerating clear at the 600m to record her 14th win from 15 starts and further cement her standing as Australia’s premier miler. Waller hailed the mare as an “absolute professional” who continues to thrive no matter how she is trained, while McDonald revealed he deliberately gave her a sterner test than in recent starts and was left waiting for Ceolwulf’s challenge that never came. The runner-up lost no admirers in defeat, with Chad Schofield praising the dual King Charles winner’s effort after tracking Autumn Glow throughout, but the day ultimately belonged to the superstar mare, who enhanced her remarkable record with another emphatic Group 1 success.
2026 King Charles III Stakes Race Replay
2026 King Charles III Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
The latest King Charles III Stakes odds 2026 give punters an early look at the leading contenders for one of Australia’s premier Group 1 mile races at Royal Randwick. As a weight-for-age feature that consistently attracts elite gallopers, the market is often shaped by proven Group 1 performers, in-form milers, and major spring carnival stars. At Neds, punters can access the current King Charles III Stakes odds 2026, follow market fluctuations, and gain valuable insights to inform their King Charles III Stakes betting 2026 strategy. With a rich history and a reputation for producing high-class winners, the King Charles III Stakes is a race that commands serious attention from punters every spring.
The latest King Charles III Stakes 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
| 5. Autumn Glow (4) 57kg13×11 | |||
| 1. Ceolwulf (1) 59kgx5232 | |||
| 3. Just Folk (3) 59kg32322 | |||
| 2. God’s Window (2) 59kg23×51 | |||
| 4. Militarize (5) 59kg3×606 | |||
| 6. Pride Of Jenni (5)SCRATCHED: | |||
King Charles III Stakes 2026 Tips
Our insider King Charles III Stakes betting tips for 2026 will be listed here the week of the race and a full tipping preview available on the Neds Blog.
| 5. Autumn Glow (4) 57kg13×11 |
| 1. Ceolwulf (1) 59kgx5232 |
| 3. Just Folk (3) 59kg32322 |
The King Charles III Stakes is a recent edition to the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. The event was formerly known as the George Main Stakes and run in September a fortnight prior to the Epsom Handicap.
From 2023 the George Main Stakes is known as the King Charles III Stakes in honour of His Majesty King Charles III and takes place at Royal Randwick in mid-October on The Everest Day.
The $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) replaces the George Main Stakes at Randwick on the mid-September The Shorts Day card as of 2023 offering the winner a ballot exemption for the Epsom Handicap.
Fangirl ran third in the inaugural 7 Stakes results before winning the 2023 King Charles III Stakes by nearly three lengths.
Autumn Glow (2026) was the last horse to complete the 7 Stakes – King Charles III Stakes double.
The Everest Day features 10 races and is now worth close to $35 million including the Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m) which is the world’s richest turf race.
The event was previously named in honour of former Australian Jockey Club chairman George Main.
The King Charles III Stakes is run over 1600m (a mile) at weight-for-age conditions and is now the world’s richest weight-for-age mile race.
The race record currently stands at 1 minute 33.65 seconds and was set in 2017 by equine superstar Winx. Winx also 2016 and 2018 editions during her incredible career.
Other standout George Main Stakes winners throughout history include Kingston Town (1981, 1982), Lonhro (2003) and More Joyous (2010).
In 2020 trainer Chris Waller posted his incredible seventh George Main Stakes victory with Kolding leading an all-Waller first four and then his eighth in 10 years in 2021 with Verry Elleegant.
The 2021 George Main Stakes winner Verry Elleegant did so at her third attempt in the event, and she franked the form going on to win that year’s iconic Melbourne Cup race over the two miles at Flemington.
Waller also won the opening edition of the renamed event with Fangirl in 2023.
Anamoe (2022) would also frank the George Main Stakes form going on to win a host more Group 1 races including that year’s Cox Plate before the George Main was renamed the King Charles III Stakes the following year.
In 2024 Ceolwulf became the first horse to complete the Epsom Handicap – King Charles III Stakes double.
Ceolwulf returned for a successful title defence in 2025 making him the latest back-to-back King Charles III Stakes champion before franking the form with a Melbourne Cup Carnival win in the Champions Mile.
Chris Waller celebrated his 10th victory in 2026 with Autumn Glow who defeated the dual defending champ Ceolwulf.
2026 King Charles III Stakes – Quick Information
- Former Race Name: George Main Stakes
- Race Day: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Track Location: Randwick Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Right-handed
- Race Distance: 1,600m
- Weight Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Qualification: Three years and older
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 1
- Operator: Australian Turf Club
- Prize Purse: $5,000,000
- Inaugural Race: 1945 (George Main Stakes); 2023 (King Charles III Stakes)
- 2026 King Charles III Stakes Winner: Autumn Glow
King Charles III Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the King Charles III Stakes, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How to Place This Type of Bet in This Year’s King Charles III Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s King Charles III Stakes. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s King Charles III Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the King Charles III Stakes, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the King Charles III Stakes, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the King Charles III Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the King Charles III Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the King Charles III Stakes to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the King Charles III Stakes in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How to Bet on the King Charles III Stakes in 2026
- Join up at neds
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on King Charles III Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the King Charles III Stakes in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the King Charles III Stakes in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight each horse will carry.
Additional form factors to consider when picking the King Charles III Stakes winner include:
- Waller Factor – Trainer Chris Waller trained 10 of the winners from 2012-26 including triple hero Winx, Kolding (2020) for an all-Waller first four that year and most recently Verry Elleegant (2021), Fangirl (2023) and Autumn Glow (2026) so watching for an in-form Waller horse is always a good idea.
- Sydney Leads – No George Main Stakes / King Charles III Stakes winner has come off a run outside of Sydney in over three decades.
- Favourites Salute – Winx (2016-18) followed by Avilius (2019) made it four straight wins for the favourites.
- New Lead-Up: As of 2023 the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) held at Rosehill on Hill Stakes Day in early October serves as a key lead-up to the King Charles III Stakes field.
King Charles III Stakes Favourites 2026
King Charles III Stakes favourites for 2026 include the country’s best mare Autumn Glow who has won five Group 1s and counting at time of publish and Joe Pride’s dual defending champion Ceolwulf chasing a historic three-peat in the event.
Favourites in George Main Stakes / King Charles III Stakes betting have an excellent recent record thanks to the three straight wins by Winx (2016-18) followed by Avilius ($3.10 in 2019), Verry Elleegant ($1.75 in 2021) and most recently Autumn Glow ($1.26 in 2026).
The favourites were back on top in 2022 with Anamoe saluting at a short quote of $1.65 in George Main Stakes betting.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 Field
The official 2026 King Charles III Stakes field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2026 King Charles III Stakes field features a compact but classy line-up of just six middle-distance gallopers including the country’s best mare, Autumn Glow, chasing her 14th win from 15 starts and the dual defending champion Ceolwulf.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Ceolwulf
J: Chad Schofield
T: Joseph Pride |
6×5232 | G | 1 | 59kg | |
|
2. God’s Window
J: Siena Grima
T: Chris Waller |
123×51 | G | 2 | 59kg | |
|
3. Just Folk
J: Jamie Mott
T: Gavin Bedggood |
932322 | G | 3 | 59kg | |
|
4. Militarize
J: Zac Purton
T: Chris Waller |
23×606 | G | 5 | 59kg | |
|
5. Autumn Glow
J: James McDonald
T: Chris Waller |
113×11 | M | 4 | 57kg | |
| 6. Pride Of Jenni (5) Scratched: | |||||
King Charles III Stakes Race Day 2026
The $5 million 2026 King Charles III Stakes now runs on Randwick on Saturday, October 17, 2026, as part of the 2026 The Everest Day card. The other key features on the program include the:
- Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m),
- $2 million The Kosciuszko (1200m),
- Listed $1 million Silver Eagle (1300m),
- Group 2 $2,000,000 Sydney Stakes (1200m),
- Group 3 $500,000 ATC St Leger Stakes (2600m),
- Group 3 $250,000 Reginald Allen Quality (1400m), and the
- Group 3 $250,000 Angst Stakes (1600m).
King Charles III Stakes 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 King Charles III Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race. The official King Charles III Stakes barriers will be published in our above King Charles III Stakes Field section.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 Nominations
2026 King Charles III Stakes nominations close at 11:00 AM on the Monday of race week.
The 2026 King Charles III Stakes nominations attracted a dozen weight-for-age stars dominated by the country’s best mare Autumn Glow chasing her fifth Group 1 victory.
King Charles III Stakes Weights 2026
Standard weight-for-age conditions apply to this race. Final weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on the Tuesday of race week. The official 2026 King Charles III Stakes weights will be available in our above King Charles III Stakes Field section.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 Acceptances
Acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on the Wednesday of race week. The official 2026 King Charles III Stakes final acceptances will be available in our above King Charles III Stakes Field section.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 Jockeys
The final riders’ announcement is at 12:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week and the official 2026 King Charles III Stakes jockeys will be published in our above King Charles III Stakes Field section.
King Charles III Stakes Scratchings 2026
2026 King Charles III Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
- No. 6 Pride Of Jenni (5)
King Charles III Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 King Charles III Stakes prize money is set at $5,000,000. King Charles III Stakes prize money is paid down to 12th place.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $2,950,000 |
| 2nd | $850,000 |
| 3rd | $425,000 |
| 4th | $210,000 |
| 5th | $125,000 |
| 6th | $75,000 |
| 7th | $60,000 |
| 8th | $60,000 |
| 9th | $40,000 |
| 10th | $40,000 |
| 11th | $20,000 |
| 12th | $20,000 |
King Charles III Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 King Charles III Stakes race number is scheduled as Randwick Race 9 at 5:35pm (AEDT) on Saturday, October 17, 2026. There are a total of ten races running at Randwick Racecourse on The Everest Day.
King Charles III Stakes Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 King Charles III Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
The George Main Stakes / King Charles III Stakes form is traditionally worth following into the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) run at The Valley, a double achieved by superstar mare Winx three times (2016-18). Winx made history in 2018 as the sole four-time Cox Plate champion in history having also won the classic in 2015. Prior to Winx, the last horse to do the George Main – Cox Plate double was Kingston Town.
Anamoe (2022) was the last horse to complete the George Main Stakes – Cox Plate double before the George Main was moved to October and renamed the King Charles III Stakes in 2023.
George Main Stakes / King Charles III Stakes History
One of the trainers who have made a record in this race is TJ Smith. The late, great Tommy Smith managed to amass a record of 11 winners for the race. Gai Waterhouse, TJ Smith’s daughter, also has three wins under her belt.
The horse that has made the most wins on this extremely challenging track is Winx. Winx, the Australian sweetheart won this race between 2016 and 2018 – three years in a row.
She also set the current George Main Stakes race record time for her second victory in 2017 of 1 minute 33.65 seconds.
In 2020 trainer Chris Waller made it seven wins in the past nine years with Kolding leading an all-Waller first four and then in 2021 the Waller stable was in winning form again with that year’s subsequent Melbourne Cup winning mare Verry Elleegant.
Ahead of the 2023 edition the George Main Stakes was renamed the King Charles III Stakes, moved to mid-October on The Everest Day, and had prize money increased to $5 million and saw Waller win with Fangirl.
King Charles III Stakes Live 2026
The following channels will be airing the 2026 King Charles III Stakes live in September:
- Free To Air TV: Channel 7
- Paid Television: Sky Racing 1
- Radio: Radio Sport National
- Streaming: Online via 7Live; Racing NSW
George Main Stakes / King Charles III Stakes Winners
A list of the recent George Main Stakes winners going back to 2000 can be found below. To view a complete list of past George Main Stakes winners from the race’s inauguration in 1945 to the present date please click here.
From 2023 the event is known as the King Charles III Stakes.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Autumn Glow | Ceolwulf | Just Folk | 1:35.28 |
| 2025 | Ceolwulf | Mr Brightside | Pier | 1:34.39 |
| 2024 | Ceolwulf | Pride Of Jenni | My Oberon | 1:34.07 |
| 2023 | Fangirl | Mr Brightside | My Oberon | 1:33.79 |
| 2022 | Anamoe | Icebath | Hinged | 1:38.6 |
| 2021 | Verry Elleegant | Riodini | Think It Over | 1:36.0 |
| 2020 | Kolding | Star Of The Seas | Imaging | 1:33.3 |
| 2019 | Avilius | Dreamforce | Happy Clapper | 1:36.1 |
| 2018 | Winx | Le Romain | Egg Tart | 1:34.2 |
| 2017 | Winx | Happy Clapper | Foxplay | 1:33.6 |
| 2016 | Winx | Hauraki | It’s Somewhat | 1:36.1 |
| 2015 | Kermadec | Royal Descent | Pornichet | 1:37.7 |
| 2014 | Sacred Falls | Royal Descent | Laser Hawk | 1:35.6 |
| 2013 | Streama | Royal Descent | Veyron | 1:34.7 |
| 2012 | Shoot Out | Rangirangdoo | Secret Admirer | 1:36.4 |
| 2011 | Sincero | Ilovethiscity | Triple Elegance | 1:28.5 |
| 2010 | More Joyous | Trusting | Empires Choice | 1:35.6 |
| 2009 | Road to Rock | Black Piranha | Onemorenomore | 1:35.5 |
| 2008 | Mentality | Theseo | Gallant Tess | 1:34.6 |
| 2007 | Race Not Run | – | – | – |
| 2006 | Racing To Win | Red Dazzler | Desert War | 1:33.8 |
| 2005 | Mr Celebrity | Shania Dane | Outback Prince | 1:34.6 |
| 2004 | Grand Armee | King’s Chapel | Shamekha | 1:36.9 |
| 2003 | Lonhro | Grand Armee | Defier | 1:37.5 |
| 2002 | Defier | Excellerator | Sunline | 1:38.3 |
| 2001 | Viscount | Shogun Lodge | Courvoisier | 1:36.7 |
| 2000 | Adam | Mr. Innocent | Al Mansour | 1:35.3 |