Update: Zaaki is a late scratching from the King Charles III Stakes field today. Click here to read more. 

The official first edition of the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) is the mile feature at Randwick on The Everest Day, and below we have our exclusive 2023 King Charles III Stakes tips and best bets.

The revamped, renamed and rescheduled George Main Stakes race now runs as the King Charles III Stakes on Saturday in Sydney and has attracted a line-up of the country’s premiere middle-distance horses.

Mr Brightside off a stunning succession of top-level victories is tipped to continue his mile magic and sits top of King Charles III Stakes betting at $2.20 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

So, will the ace of the Hayes’ stable salute at the short odds once again or is there an upset pending from the likes of Chris Waller’s talented mare Fangirl, the super veteran Zaaki or the promising import Light Infantry Man from the Maher/Eustace stable?

Read on for the King Charles III Stakes contenders we are tipping to finish in the money this weekend!

To Win: #3 Zaaki ($9.50 at time of publish) – – SCRATCHED

Veteran galloper Zaaki is a late scratching from the 2023 King Charles III Stakes field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Mr Brightside is a star in flying form out to stamp himself as the world’s best miler….but we’re tipping against him here. We 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!

The Danger: #2 Mr Brightside ($1.90 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Mr Brightside is firm favourite in 2023 King Charles III Stakes betting. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

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!

The Roughie: #13 Rediener ($31 at time of publish) – BET NOW

2023 Epsom Handicap winner Rediener looks a better chance than his big price suggests in the King Charles III Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

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.