King Charles III Stakes (Australia)
Horse race
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The King Charles III Stakes (formerly known as the George Main Stakes), is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in September. Total prize money for the race is A$5,000,000.[1]
Sydney, Australia
San Domenico & Arthur Ward, 1950 winner | |
| Class | Group 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia |
| Inaugurated | 1945 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - flat |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,600 metres |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Horses three years old and older |
| Weight | Weight for Age |
| Purse | A$5,000,000 (2023) |
| Bonuses | Winner exemption from a ballot on the Epsom Handicap |
History
The race was named after George Main, a former chairman of the Australian Jockey Club. Main lived with his wife Mary on Retreat, a grazing property at Illabo, west of Cootamundra on the southwest slopes of New South Wales. He bred racehorses and ran sheep.[2]
The winner of the King Charles III Stakes is exempt from a ballot on the Epsom Handicap, and horses who run well often head for the Epsom.[2] The race was renamed in honour of Charles III in July 2023.[3]
Name
- 2015–2019 Colgate Optic White Stakes
Grade
- 1945–1978 - Principal Race
- 1979 onwards - Group 1
Distance
- 1945–1971 – 1 mile
- 1972 onwards - 1600 metres
Records
- Winx (2017) – 1:33.65[4]
- Legendary trainer T.J. Smith won this event eleven times.[1]
Winners
- 2025 - Ceolwulf[5]
- 2024 - Ceolwulf[6]
- 2023 - Fangirl[7]
- 2022 - Anamoe[8]
- 2021 - Verry Elleegant[9]
- 2020 - Kolding[10]
- 2019 - Avilius[11]
- 2018 - Winx[12]
- 2017 - Winx[13]
- 2016 - Winx[14]
- 2015 - Kermadec[15]
- 2014 - Sacred Falls[16]
- 2013 - Streama[17]
- 2012 - Shoot Out[18]
- 2011 - Sincero[19]
- 2010 - More Joyous[20]
- 2009 - Road To Rock[21]
- 2008 - Mentality[22]
- 2007 - †race not held
- 2006 - Racing to Win[23]
- 2005 - Mr Celebrity[24]
- 2004 - Grand Armee[25]
- 2003 - Lonhro[26]
- 2002 - Defier[27]
- 2001 - Viscount[28]
- 2000 - Adam[29]
- 1999 - Shogun Lodge[30]
- 1998 - Dracula[31]
- 1997 - Encounter[32]
- 1996 - Juggler[33]
- 1995 - Turridu[34]
- 1994 - Durbridge[35]
- 1993 - March Hare[36]
- 1992 - Coronation Day[37]
- 1991 - Planet Ruler[38]
- 1990 - Shaftesbury Avenue[39]
- 1989 - Vo Rogue[40]
- 1988 - Gennaker[41]
- 1987 - Campaign King[42]
- 1986 - Ma Chiquita[43]
- 1985 - Roman Artist[44]
- 1984 - Inspired[45]
- 1983 - Emancipation[46]
- 1982 - Kingston Town
- 1981 - Kingston Town
- 1980 - Tullmax
- 1979 - Imposing
- 1978 - Party's Pride
- 1977 - Blockbuster
- 1976 - Purple Patch
- 1975 - Hartshill
- 1974 - Itchy Feet
- 1973 - All Shot
- 1972 - Nippon
- 1971 - Baguette
- 1970 - Ricochet
- 1969 - Zephyrus
- 1968 - Regal Rhythm
- 1967 - Regal Rhythm
- 1966 - Chantal
- 1965 - Count Radiant
- 1964 - Count Radiant
- 1963 - Wenona Girl
- 1962 - New Statesman
- 1961 - Martello Towers
- 1960 - Second Earl
- 1959 - Amanullah
- 1958 - Lindbergh
- 1957 - Landy
- 1956 - Kingster
- 1955 - Prince Morvi
- 1954 - Gendarme
- 1953 - Tarien
- 1952 - Montana
- 1951 - Oversight
- 1950 - San Domenico
- 1949 - The Groom
- 1948 - De La Salle
- 1947 - Shannon
- 1946 - Shannon
- 1945 - Modulation
† Not held because of outbreak of equine influenza[47]