George Main Stakes

A major Sydney spring carnival race, the George Main Stakes is in honour of its namesake, George Main, who was the chairman of the Australian Jockey Club.

The 1600m Group 1 is typically held at Randwick in September. The winner of the George Main Stakes is exempt from the Epsom Handicap which means there’s more to play for than just the half a million purse on offer.

The weight-for-age feature has been won by some of Australia’s champion thoroughbreds and there will be many horses vying to add their names to the list this year. Winx, Imposing, Kingston Town, Vo Rogue, Lonhro and More Joyous are just a handful of past winners of the George Main.

Best George Main Stakes bookmakers

The bookmakers below offer markets on the George Main Stakes. Click on any of the links to read a comprehensive review.

George Main Stakes Bookmakers

George Main Stakes betting guide

Favourites punters rejoice come George Main Stakes time. Seven of the last 11 winners have been the bookmakers favourite come post time and the average winning price is only $2.68.

George Main fields are almost always the cream of the crop when it comes to Australian horses, and the highly fancied runners typically fare well.

Recent favourites to have won include Avilius, Winx, Kermadec, Sacred Falls, Shoot Out, Sincero, More Joyous and Racing To Win, which currently holds the track record. There have been favourites to get beaten and there’s some top names among that list. Shogun Lodge, Sunline, Danewin, Lonhro, Might And Power and Super Impose all suffered defeat when heavily backed.

There has been only seven double-figure priced winners since 1983 at an average price of $20, with the most recent coming in 2009 when Road To Rock paid a massive $40.

Look for the male horses when placing your bets. There has been only three female horses win in the last 30 years (Streama, More Joyous and Ma Chipquita) so history isn’t on the side of the fillies and mares.

Gai Waterhouse has a good record with four wins from 24 starters in modern history, but T.J. Smith’s record of 11 wins will take some catching. Jockeys to follow are Hugh Bowman who has won this race four times. Glen Boss, Glyn Schofield and Corey Brown who have all won the George Main Stakes twice.

2020 George Main Stakes betting odds

There is seven accepted runners for the 2020 running of the George Main Stakes, five of the seven runners are under double figures, with the early market favourite coming from the Chris Waller stable in Verry Elleegant at $2.40 after her impressive first up win in the Winx Stakes. The 2019 George Main Stakes winner Avilius is on the second line of betting at $5.00 after an impressive return in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes. Dreamforce is on the third line of betting by half a point at $5.50 and will look to lead the field up and prove hard to catch as he did in the Tramway Stakes. Imaging and Star of the Seas are at $9, whilst Kolding and Collete are both at double digits.

2019 George Main Stakes result

• 1st: Avilius ($3.10)
• 2nd: Dreamforce ($4.20 SP)
• 3rd: Happy Clapper (5.00 SP)

Recent George Main Stakes winners

• 2019: Avilius far too good in the George Main Stakes
  After settling last in the nine horse field, the Godolphin star Avilius let loose with an electric turn of foot to run down Dreamforce and pulling away at the 100 metre mark to bag his third Group 1.
• 2018: Winx completes the threepeat
  It was easy as you like for Winx to complete a third-straight George Main Stakes. Le Romain pinched a handy lead at the 400m approached but the mighty mare clicked into gear to leave the field in her wake. Le Romain held on well for second while Egg Tart rocketed him just to miss out on the quinella placing.
• 2017: Bowman gets the best out of underperforming Winx
  Winx delivered yet another win in a big Group 1 race, but it wasn’t easy as the margin suggested. The champion was under pressure at the 1000m, and Hugh Bowman admitted after the race that he had to give Winx a couple of reminders before the turn. The mighty mare eventually powered away to win from Happy Clapper, but on second viewing it wasn’t the stroll in the park many anticipated.
• 2016: Winx delivers in brilliant fashion
  It was another easy win for Winx which continued the terrific race record of Chris Waller. Winx was never going to get beat as it strolled past its opposition and Hugh Bowman barely moved a muscle. The George Main was a pivotal lead-up to the Cox Plate where Winx would go on to win. Read race report here.
• 2015: Kermadec canters home for career-best win
  Chris Waller lined up Kermadec to victory in 2015 and it quickly became the 2015 Cox Plate favourite. The four-year-old settled midfield and recorded a half-length win over Royal Descent which suffered its third straight second placing in as many years. It carried 5.8kg on a slow track and paid $2.30 for the win.
• 2014: Waller wins the first of four-straight with Sacred Falls
  Multiple Doncaster Handicap winner Sacred Falls defeated a field of 10 runners. A Chris Waller-trained import from New Zealand, Sacred Falls burst through runners to record an impressive victory over Royal Descent and Laser Hawk. The stake money was only $350,000, but this race would be a stepping stone for much richer races further down the line.
• 2013: Streama succeeds for the late Guy Walter
  One of only three female horses to win the George Main Stakes, Streama was in a purple patch of form and it fought off all challengers to win for the late Guy Walter. The five-year-old mare again handed Royal Descent another placing and both were just over a length in front of the New Zealand-trained Veyron. Some of the spring stayers were having a hit out, such as Hawkspur and Fawkner, but take nothing away from the win.
• 2012: Small price-tagged Shoot Out scores by a short margin
  Shoot Out was a $15,000 purchase which scored many big wins, including the 2012 George Main. Chris Waller had three runners in the field and scored the quinella with the lovable Rangirangdoo narrowly missing out by a neck. Shoot Out defeated only a field of eight runners and small fields are normal for this race, but the quality was there with All Too Hard finishing only fourth with 50.5kg on its back – Shoot Out carried 59kg.
• 2011: Sincero succeeds in a small field
  Another field of only eight runners lined up in 2011 with Sincero giving punters a big win. The Scott Farley-trained provincial horse proved too good for its rivals when winning by a neck over Ilovethiscity. It was one of the weakest fields in George Main history and it was also held at Rosehill instead of Randwick. They raced over 1500m instead of the mile which made this running a unique one.

Previous George Main Stakes winners