2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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The $5 million King Charles III Stakes (formerly known as the George Main Stakes) takes place at Royal Randwick on The Everest Day.
The King Charles III Stakes – formerly known as the George Main Stakes – is a 1600m race held at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
The event moved from its traditional September time-slot ahead of the 2023 edition to join Randwick’s The Everest Day race card in mid-October.
The inaugural King Charles III Stakes officially replaced the George Main Stakes from 2023 and with $5 million in stakes is the world’s richest weight-for-age 1600m race.
On The Shorts Day at Randwick in mid-September the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) replaces the old George Main Stakes on the card as the mile feature offering an Epsom Handicap ballot exemption.
Fangirl improved on a third in the 7 Stakes results to win the 2023 King Charles III Stakes for trainer Chris Waller.
The Everest Day offers close to $35 million in total prize money across the 10 races that are headlined by the $20 million The Everest (1200m).
The Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) remains a key lead-up to the event and Anamoe (2022) was the last horse to complete the Winx Stakes – George Main Stakes double first and second-up before the latter was revamped and renamed.
The next year Fangirl became the first horse to complete the new Winx Stakes – King Charles III Stakes double.
Open to horses aged three years and over the George Main Stakes was formerly a great lead-up to the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) over the same track / distance. The King Charles III Stakes now runs a fortnight after the Epsom. The last horse to complete the George Main Stakes – Epsom Handicap double was the John O’Shea-trained Racing To Win (2006).
The most notable recent George Main Stakes winner was superstar mare Winx who became the first back-to-back winner since Kingston Town (1981-82) when the champion defended her title in 2017 scoring her 20th straight race victory. Winx made George Main Stakes history again saluting in the event for the third consecutive year in 2018.
In 2021 trainer Chris Waller took his record in the race up to eight wins in 10 years with Verry Elleegant saluting. Verry Elleegant went on to frank the George Main Stakes form that year winning the iconic Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington three starts later.
The master horseman then won the first edition of the new race with Fangirl saluting in the 2023 King Charles III Stakes results for the stable.
The 2022 George Main Stakes form was franked with the winner Anamoe going on to win the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes – Cox Plate double later that spring.
The 2023 King Charles III Stakes (formerly George Main Stakes) ran on Saturday October 14, 2023 at Royal Randwick on The Everest Day and was won in style by Chris Waller’s class mare Fangirl ($5.50) who put 2.6 lengths on the beaten odds-on favourite Mr Brightside.
King Charles III Stakes (George Main Stakes) | |
---|---|
Date: | Saturday October 14, 2023 |
Track: | Randwick Racecourse |
Distance: | 1600m |
Race Type: | Weight-For-Age |
Status: | Group 1 |
Prize Money: | $5,000,000 |
He was spruiked as the country’s best miler, but beaten favourite Mr Brightside was no match for Chris Waller’s star mare Fangirl ($5.50) who blitzed him late with a commanding 2.6 length romp home in the 2023 King Charles III Stakes results ahead of a rematch in Melbourne’s Cox Plate on October 28.
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 14 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 2 | 57kg | $5.50 | |||
2 | 2 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 2.67L | 7 | 59kg | $1.95F | ||
3 | 6 | MY OBERON (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | Chad Schofield | 2.81L | 3 | 59kg | $31 | ||
4 | 9 | NUGGET (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 4.18L | 8 | 59kg | $61 | ||
5 | 12 | KOVALICA (NZ) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 4.48L | 14 | 58.5kg | $21 | ||
6 | 1 | THINK IT OVER | Kerry Parker | Nash Rawiller | 4.8L | 4 | 59kg | $11 | ||
7 | 7 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | Hugh Bowman | 5.16L | 9 | 59kg | $26 | ||
8 | 16 | HOPE IN YOUR HEART | Kerry Parker | Jason Collett | 5.51L | 13 | 57kg | $31 | ||
9 | 11 | GOLDEN MILE | James Cummings | Zac Lloyd (a) | 6L | 5 | 58.5kg | $21 | ||
10 | 13 | REDIENER | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 6.15L | 1 | 58.5kg | $31 | ||
11 | 5 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Zac Purton | 6.22L | 6 | 59kg | $9.50 | ||
12 | 8 | ZEYREK (FR) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Sam Clipperton | 6.23L | 12 | 59kg | $101 | ||
13 | 15 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.28L | 10 | 57kg | $26 | ||
14 | 4 | HUETOR (FR) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joshua Parr | 6.38L | 11 | 59kg | $151 | ||
10 | DEMOCRACY MANIFEST | Chris Waller | Tyler Schiller | 0 | ||||||
3 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Ms Jamie Kah | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The season’s best King Charles III Stakes 2023 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below as soon as available.
From 2010-2022 eleven favourites in George Main Stakes betting saluted for the punters. The most recent favourites to get the job done were Avilius ($3.10 in 2019), Verry Elleegant ($1.75 in 2021) and Anamoe ($1.65 in 2022).
Fangirl won the inaugural King Charles III Stakes in 2023 at $5.50 beating the odds-on favourite Mr Brightside ($1.95).
Stay tuned for our insider King Charles III Stakes 2023 Tips on the important Group 1 mile showdown this spring.
Mr Brightside is a star in flying form out to stamp himself as the world’s best miler….but I’m tipping against him here. I could be crazy as the favourite’s form is imposing and he is in outstanding form this spring as the season’s premiere performer, but think the old marvel Zaaki at the price looks enormous value for the upset. This nine-year-old continues to show a tremendous zest for racing and this should be some contest! He has plenty of form at Randwick, a good strike-rate over the distance, and is third-up and fit here. Brings the Sydney form lines to the front having run third fresh in the Winx Stakes before a second in the $1 million 7 Stakes over the mile at Randwick on September 16. Kept fresh for this returning to the same track and trip. Starts one on the inside of MB in barrier seven, and was only a nose beaten last time out with natural improvement to come. Can surprise!
You can’t put forward you’re King Charles III Stakes tips and omit a horse of this calibre. If he wins, he becomes arguably the best sprinter getting around anywhere right now. He won the All-Star Mile – Doncaster Mile in the autumn and is three-from-three this prep improving each time out. Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes win over this distance at Flemington last start defeating subsequent Underwood Stakes champ Alligator Blood. The form around this six-year-old son of Bullbars continues to hold up in races both north and south of the border. He is undefeated at the Randwick track with two previous wins, and his mile record over the 1600m is just plain imposing (14:10-0-1). Craig Williams and barrier eight are two more ticks. Could just come out and blitz them. Let’s see!
There’s a host of Group 1 horses right in this race including one of the forgotten chances at a blowout price of 40/1. Waller’s Redoute’s Choice four-year-old is in terrific winning form having won his last four on the trot. Latest saw him box on well after an on-speed run at this track and trip in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). Now, let’s forget for a moment he goes up from 50kg to 58.5kg…which is why he is at this price. Looking further back shows he’s carted 59.5kg to victory before. Not against a Group 1 field obviously, but he is a horse on the up that knows how to win from the master trainer who has a dominant record in the George Main. He’ll be out quick from the inside alley using that barrier to be in the first few in the run and could finish better than his price suggests.
The King Charles III Stakes field attracts a top class line-up of spring milers, many looking to step-up in distance later in the season heading towards a Melbourne feature including the Cox Plate – a double Winx achieved in 2016, 2017 and incredibly again in 2018.
Many gallopers have a lead-up run in events like the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) and or Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m). Winx (2017) was the last horse to complete the Chelmsford Stakes – George Main Stakes double.
The official King Charles III Stakes 2023 Final Field & Barriers are released the Wednesday prior to the race and will be published in full below.
The inaugural 2023 King Charles III Stakes field features a cracking field of spring stars led by Mr Brightside who is out for his sixth straight win including a third Group 1 on the trot after doing the Memsie Stakes – Makybe Diva Stakes double in Melbourne at his two latest starts.
Update: Zaaki is a late scratching from the King Charles III Stakes field today. Click here to read more.
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x14241x631 | THINK IT OVER | Kerry Parker | Nash Rawiller | 4 | 59kg | 120 | ||
2 | 3x5211x111 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 8 | 59kg | 119 | ||
3 | 341x217x32 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Ms Jamie Kah | 7 | 59kg | 118 | ||
4 | 8x0653216x | HUETOR (FR) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joshua Parr | 12 | 59kg | 111 | ||
5 | 2x6x372332 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Zac Purton | 6 | 59kg | 110 | ||
6 | 6x6026x647 | MY OBERON (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | Chad Schofield | 3 | 59kg | 109 | ||
7 | x216x143x2 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 59kg | 107 | ||
8 | 121735×454 | ZEYREK (FR) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Sam Clipperton | 13 | 59kg | 106 | ||
9 | 1113553×40 | NUGGET (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 9 | 59kg | 104 | ||
10 | 3x1761x015 | DEMOCRACY MANIFEST | Chris Waller | Tyler Schiller | 16 | 59kg | 101 | ||
11 | x2400x9013 | GOLDEN MILE | James Cummings | Zac Lloyd (a) | 5 | 58.5kg | 109 | ||
12 | 11x3131x92 | KOVALICA (NZ) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 15 | 58.5kg | 108 | ||
13 | x641211x11 | REDIENER | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 1 | 58.5kg | 107 | ||
14 | 62x3227x13 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 2 | 57kg | 114 | ||
15 | 23x216Px52 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 11 | 57kg | 111 | ||
16 | 42x1442x36 | HOPE IN YOUR HEART | Kerry Parker | Jason Collett | 14 | 57kg | 109 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Nominations for the King Charles III Stakes 2023 close the Monday of race week.
The 2023 King Charles III Stakes nominations feature a star-studded list of weight-for-age heroes dominated by the champion galloper Mr Brightside chasing his sixth win on the trot and third Group 1 straight this spring.
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x14241x631 | THINK IT OVER | G | 8 | Kerry Parker | 1 | 59kg | 120 | ||
2 | 3x5211x111 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | G | 6 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 2 | 59kg | 119 | ||
3 | 341x217x32 | ZAAKI (GB) | G | 9 | Annabel Neasham | 3 | 59kg | 118 | ||
4 | 62x3227x13 | FANGIRL | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 4 | 57kg | 114 | ||
5 | 8x0653216x | HUETOR (FR) | G | 7 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 5= | 59kg | 111 | ||
6 | 23x216Px52 | ATISHU (NZ) | M | 6 | Chris Waller | 5= | 57kg | 111 | ||
7 | 2x6x372332 | LIGHT INFANTRY (FR) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 7 | 59kg | 110 | ||
8 | 6x6026x647 | MY OBERON (IRE) | G | 7 | Annabel Neasham | 8= | 59kg | 109 | ||
9 | x2400x9013 | GOLDEN MILE | H | 4 | James Cummings | 8= | 58.5kg | 109 | ||
10 | 42x1442x36 | HOPE IN YOUR HEART | M | 5 | Kerry Parker | 8= | 57kg | 109 | ||
11 | 11x3131x92 | KOVALICA (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 11 | 58.5kg | 108 | ||
12 | x216x143x2 | BUCKAROO (GB) | H | 5 | Joseph O’Brien | 12= | 59kg | 107 | ||
13 | x641211x11 | REDIENER | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 12= | 58.5kg | 107 | ||
14 | 0x73027x40 | CONVERGE | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 14= | 59kg | 106 | ||
15 | 121735×454 | ZEYREK (FR) | G | 7 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 14= | 59kg | 106 | ||
16 | 1113553×40 | NUGGET (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 16 | 59kg | 104 | ||
17 | 3x1761x015 | DEMOCRACY MANIFEST | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 17 | 59kg | 101 | ||
18 | 36x254x156 | AMENABLE | H | 4 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 18 | 58.5kg | 96 | ||
19 | 641×345937 | GALERON (IRE) | H | 4 | Charles Hills | 19 | 57.5kg | 93 | ||
20 | 3285210×53 | SPANGLER (IRE) | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 20 | 59kg | 92 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The race was previously named after George Main, the former chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, racehorse breeder and sheep runner before being renamed ahead of the 2023 in honour of His Majesty King Charles III.
Inaugurated in 1945, the first winner of the George Main Stakes was Modulation. There have been several horses which have managed to win the race more than once including Kingston Town in 1981-82, Regal Rhythm in 1967-68, Count Radiant in 1964-65 and Shannon in 1946-47. In 2011 the race was run over a 1500m trip at Rosehill due to construction work at Randwick.
In 2017 Winx became the latest back-to-back George Main Stakes winner and the shortest-priced favourite to salute at odds of $1.12. The mighty mare won the event for the third year on the trot in 2018 defeating just six rivals, the closest being Le Romain by four lengths!
Trainer Chris Waller posted his seventh George Main Stakes win in nine years in 2020 with Kolding scoring an upset over three of his stablemates for an all-Waller first four followed by his eighth in ten years with his subsequent Melbourne Cup winning mare Verry Elleegant in 2021.
In 2022 subsequent Cox Plate star Anamoe became one of the shortest-priced favourites to salute in the George Main Stakes results winning at a $1.65 starting price.
The first official King Charles III Stakes winner was Fangirl for Chris Waller in 2023.
Year | Place | Horse | Time |
---|---|---|---|
2023 King Charles III Stakes |
1st | Fangirl | 1 minute 33.79 seconds |
2nd | Mr Brightside | ||
3rd | My Oberon | ||
2022 George Main Stakes |
1st | Anamoe | 1 minute 38.61 seconds |
2nd | Icebath | ||
3rd | Hinged | ||
2021 George Main Stakes |
1st | Verry Elleegant | 1 minute 36.07 seconds |
2nd | Riodini | ||
3rd | Think It Over | ||
2020 George Main Stakes |
1st | Kolding | 1 minute 33.30 seconds |
2nd | Star Of The Seas | ||
3rd | Imaging | ||
2019 George Main Stakes |
1st | Avilius | 1 minute 36.18 seconds |
2nd | Dreamforce | ||
3rd | Happy Clapper | ||
2018 George Main Stakes |
1st | Winx | 1 minute 34.21 seconds |
2nd | Le Romain | ||
3rd | Egg Tart | ||
2017 George Main Stakes |
1st | Winx | 1 minute 33.65 seconds |
2nd | Happy Clapper | ||
3rd | Foxplay | ||
2016 George Main Stakes |
1st | Winx | 1 minute 36.1 seconds |
2nd | Hauraki | ||
3rd | It’s Somewhat | ||
2015 George Main Stakes |
1st | Kermadec | 1 minute 37.70 seconds |
2nd | Royal Descent | ||
3rd | Pornichet | ||
2014 George Main Stakes |
1st | Sacred Falls | 1 minute 35.66 seconds |
2nd | Royal Descent | ||
3rd | Laser Hawk | ||
2013 George Main Stakes |
1st | Streama | 1 minute 34.78 seconds |
2nd | Royal Descent | ||
3rd | Veyron | ||
2012 George Main Stakes |
1st | Shoot Out | 1 minute 36.4 seconds |
2nd | Rangirangdoo | ||
3rd | Secret Admirer | ||
2011 George Main Stakes |
1st | Sincero | 1 minute 28.5 seconds |
2nd | Ilovethiscity | ||
3rd | Triple Elegance | ||
2010 George Main Stakes |
1st | More Joyous | 1 minute 35.6 seconds |
2nd | Trusting | ||
3rd | Empires Choice | ||
2009 George Main Stakes |
1st | Road To Rock | 1 minute 35.5 seconds |
2nd | Black Piranha | ||
3rd | Onemorenomore | ||
2008 George Main Stakes |
1st | Mentality | 1 minute 34.68 seconds |
2nd | Theseo | ||
3rd | Gallant Tess | ||
2007 George Main Stakes |
Race Not Held | ||
2006 George Main Stakes |
1st | Racing To Win | 1 minute 33.75 seconds |
2nd | Red Dazzler | ||
3rd | Desert War | ||
2005 George Main Stakes |
1st | Mr Celebrity | 1 minute 34.6 seconds |
2nd | Shania Dane | ||
3rd | Outback Prince | ||
2004 George Main Stakes |
1st | Grand Armee | 1 minute 36.94 seconds |
2nd | King’s Chapel | ||
3rd | Shamekha | ||
2003 George Main Stakes |
1st | Lonhro | 1 minute 37.48 seconds |
2nd | Grand Armee | ||
3rd | Defier | ||
2002 George Main Stakes |
1st | Defier | 1 minute 38.31 seconds |
2nd | Excellerator | ||
3rd | Sunline | ||
2001 George Main Stakes |
1st | Viscount | 1 minute 36.74 seconds |
2nd | Shogun Lodge | ||
3rd | Courvoisier | ||
2000 George Main Stakes |
1st | Adam | 1 minute 35.25 seconds |
2nd | Mr. Innocent | ||
3rd | Al Mansour |