King Charles III Stakes (Australia) explained

Surface:	Turf
Class:	Group 1
Horse Race:	King Charles III Stakes
Location:	Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia
Inaugurated:	1945
Race Type:	Thoroughbred - flat
Distance:	1,600 metres
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

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]

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

• 2024 - Ceowulf^[5]
• 2023 - Fangirl^[6]
• 2022 - Anamoe^[7]
• 2021 - Verry Elleegant^[8]
• 2020 - Kolding^[9]
• 2019 - Avilius^[10]
• 2018 - Winx^[11]
• 2017 - Winx^[12]
• 2016 - Winx^[13]
• 2015 - Kermadec^[14]
• 2014 - Sacred Falls^[15]
• 2013 - Streama^[16]
• 2012 - Shoot Out^[17]
• 2011 - Sincero^[18]
• 2010 - More Joyous^[19]
• 2009 - Road To Rock^[20]
• 2008 - Mentality^[21]
• 2007 - †race not held
• 2006 - Racing to Win^[22]
• 2005 - Mr Celebrity^[23]
• 2004 - Grand Armee^[24]
• 2003 - Lonhro^[25]
• 2002 - Defier^[26]
• 2001 - Viscount^[27]
• 2000 - Adam^[28]
• 1999 - Shogun Lodge^[29]
• 1998 - Dracula^[30]
• 1997 - Encounter^[31]
• 1996 - Juggler^[32]
• 1995 - Turridu^[33]
• 1994 - Durbridge^[34]
• 1993 - March Hare^[35]
• 1992 - Coronation Day^[36]
• 1991 - Planet Ruler^[37]
• 1990 - Shaftesbury Avenue^[38]
• 1989 - Vo Rogue^[39]
• 1988 - Gennaker^[40]
• 1987 - Campaign King^[41]
• 1986 - Ma Chiquita^[42]
• 1985 - Roman Artist^[43]
• 1984 - Inspired^[44]
• 1983 - Emancipation^[45]
• 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^[46]

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races

Notes and References

1. Web site: Winners and Past Results for George Main Stakes . 15 September 2014. Progroup Racing (Australia). 2014.
2. Web site: George Main Stakes . 15 September 2014. Back a Winner (Australia). 2013.
3. Web site: George Main Renamed in Honor of King Charles III, The Everest Gets Purse Boost . Thoroughbred Daily News . 19 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230626080645/https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/george-main-renamed-in-honor-of-king-charles-iii-the-everest-gets-purse-boost/ . 26 June 2023 . 25 June 2023.
4. Web site: Winx Horse Profile. www.racenet.com.au. 16 September 2017.
5. Web site: Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips. racenet.com.au.
6. Web site: Racenet - Australia's Premier Horse Racing News, Form Guides & Tips. racenet.com.au.
7. Web site: 2022 Result  - Fujitsu General George Main Stakes (held 17 September 2022). racingpost.com. 19 September 2022.
8. Web site: 2021 Result  - Fujitsu General George Main Stakes (held 18 September 2021). breednet.com. 19 September 2021.
9. Web site: 2020 Result  - Fujitsu George Main Stakes (held 19 September 2020). breednet.com. 19 September 2020.
10. Web site: 2019 Result  - Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes (held 21 September 2019). breednet.com. 16 September 2020.
11. Web site: 2018 Result  - Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes (held 15 September 2018). breednet.com. 16 September 2018.
12. Web site: 2017 Result  - Colgate George Main Stakes (held 16 September 2017). breednet.com. 16 September 2017.
13. Web site: 2016 Result  - Colgate George Main Stakes (held 17 September 2016). breednet.com. 17 September 2016.
14. Web site: 2015 Result  - Colgate George Main Stakes(held 19 September 2015). breednet.com. 19 September 2015.
15. Web site: 2014 Result  - George Main Stakes (held 20 September 2014). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
16. Web site: 2013 Result  - George Main Stakes (held 21 September 2013). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
17. Web site: 2012 Result  - George Main Stakes (held 22 September 2012). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
18. Web site: 2011 Result  - George Main Stakes (held 17 September 2011). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
19. Web site: 2010 Result  - Yellowglen George Main Stakes (held 25 September 2010). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
20. Web site: 2009 Result  - Arrowfield George Main Stakes (held 26 September 2009). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
21. Web site: 2008 Result  - George Main Stakes (held 27 September 2008). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
22. Web site: 2006 Result  - George Main Stakes (held 30 September 2006). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
23. Web site: 2005 Result  - George Main Stks (held 24 September 2005). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
24. Web site: 2004 Result  - George Main Stks (held 25 September 2004). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
25. Web site: 2003 Result  - George Main Stks (held 27 September 2003). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
26. Web site: 2002 Result  - George Main Stks (held 28 September 2002). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
27. Web site: 2001 Result  - George Main Stks (held 22 September 2001). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
28. Web site: 2000 Result  - George Main Stks (held 23 September 2000). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
29. Web site: 1999 Result  - George Main Stks (held 25 September 1999). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
30. Web site: 1998 Result  - George Main Stks (held 26 September 1998). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
31. Web site: 1997 Result  - George Main Stks (held 27 September 1997). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
32. Web site: 1996 Result  - George Main Stks (held 28 September 1996). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
33. Web site: 1995 Result  - George Main Stks (held 23 September 1995). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
34. Web site: 1994 Result  - George Main Stks (held 24 September 1994). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
35. Web site: 1993 Result  - George Main Stks (held 25 September 1993). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
36. Web site: 1992 Result  - George Main Stks (held 26 September 1992). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
37. Web site: 1991 Result  - George Main Stks (held 28 September 1991). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
38. Web site: 1990 Result  - George Main Stks (held 22 September 1990). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
39. Web site: 1989 Result  - George Main Stks (held 23 September 1989). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
40. Web site: 1988 Result  - George Main Stks (held 24 September 1988). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
41. Web site: 1987 Result  - George Main Stks (held 26 September 1987). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
42. Web site: 1986 Result  - George Main Stks (held 27 September 1986). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
43. Web site: 1985 Result  - George Main Stks (held 28 September 1985). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
44. Web site: 1984 Result  - George Main Stks (held 22 September 1984). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
45. Web site: 1983 Result  - George Main Stks (held 24 September 1983). breednet.com. 16 September 2015.
46. Web site: Carnival may be delayed. The Age, Melbourne. 30 September 2014. 25 August 2007.