Mr Brightside opens favourite for King Charles III Stakes

October 11, 2023 12:50 pm.

Mr Brightside has opened a clear favourite in King Charles III Stakes markets. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos)

An outstanding field of 16 has assembled for the inaugural running of the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) this Saturday at Royal Randwick.

Formerly known as the George Main Stakes, the now $5 million feature has brought together a field boasting nine Group 1 winners as Mr Brightside headlines the blockbuster line-up.

He’s opened a clear +150 favourite with online bookmakers on the back of two Group 1 victories this preparation – saluting in both the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) respectively.

The two-time Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) winner will seek to continue his undefeated reign at Randwick, with jockey Craig Williams travelling to Sydney to secure the mount for team Hayes.

Fangirl is a clear second pick at +550 with online betting sites as James McDonald reunites with the Chris Waller-trained mare.

The ever-consistent Zaaki shares the third line of betting alongside European import Light Infantry Man at +800 apiece, as the latter makes his Australian debut for team Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Double-figure odds are available for every other runner, including 7 Stakes (1600m) winner Think It Over (+1100) and Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) runner-up Kovalica (+1000 sure to have plenty of admirers.

Buckeroo (+1600) brings differing European form to the race as well, as Joesph O’Brien acquires the services of Hugh Bowman, while Kathy O’Hara will be seeking three straight wins on Rediener (+3000) after her Epsom success.

The King Charles Stakes is the penultimate race on the Randwick program this Saturday and is scheduled to get underway at 5:35pm AEDT.

2023 King Charles III Stakes Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Think It Over	Kerry Parker	Nash Rawiller	4	59kg
2	Mr Brightside	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	Craig Williams	8	59kg
3	Zaaki	Annabel Neasham	Jamie Kah	7	59kg
4	Huetor	Peter & Paul Snowden	Joshua Parr	12	59kg
5	Light Infantry Man	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Zac Purton	6	59kg
6	My Oberon	Annabel Neasham	Chad Schofield	3	59kg
7	Buckaroo	Joseph O’Brien	Hugh Bowman	10	59kg
8	Zeyrek	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Sam Clipperton	13	59kg
9	Nugget	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Dylan Gibbons	9	59kg
10	Democracy Manifest	Chris Waller	Tyler Schiller	16	59kg
11	Golden Mile	James Cummings	Zac Lloyd	5	58.5kg
12	Kovalica	Chris Waller	Tommy Berry	15	58.5kg
13	Rediener	Chris Waller	Kathy O’Hara	1	58.5kg
14	Fangirl	Chris Waller	James McDonald	2	57kg
15	Atishu	Chris Waller	Kerrin McEvoy	11	57kg
16	Hope In Your Heart	Kerry Parker	Jason Collett	14	57kg