Autumn Glow is the short-priced favourite, with Ceolwulf and Pride Of Jenni next in the market. Punt Hub's best bet is No. 1 Ceolwulf ($3.60). He is chasing a third straight win in the race and comes off a second in the Epsom.
Six horses accepted, and Chris Waller trains three of them. Randwick was upgraded to a Soft 7 on Wednesday afternoon after a Heavy 8 at acceptances, and more rain is forecast. We're against No. 5 Autumn Glow. All odds below are Punt Hub's best displayed win prices. Follow the live market on the Punt Hub King Charles III Stakes race page.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 tips at a glance
Best bet:
1. Ceolwulf (barrier 1, 59kg, Chad Schofield). Win, $3.60 best displayed.
Punt Hub selection: 1.
Against:
5. Autumn Glow ($1.45). She is a freak, but her price is far too short in a wet race against a horse coming off a strong Epsom run.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 key facts
Race detail | 2026 King Charles III Stakes |
|---|---|
Date | Saturday 17 October 2026 (TAB Everest Day) |
Venue | Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney NSW |
Race | Race 9, King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) |
Start time | 5:35pm AEDT |
Distance | 1609 metres (one mile), turf, clockwise |
Conditions | Weight-for-age, three-year-olds and upwards |
Prizemoney | $5,000,000 ($2,950,000 to the winner) |
Field | Six runners |
Weights | 59kg (males) and 57kg (mares) |
Track | Soft 7 (upgraded from Heavy 8 on Wednesday), rail out 3 metres |
Forecast | 70% chance of up to 5mm on Saturday, top of 22°C |
Last year's winner | Ceolwulf ($10), who also won in 2024 |
All times are AEDT. The race starts at 5:35pm in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart, 5:05pm in Adelaide, 4:35pm in Brisbane and 2:35pm in Perth.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 field, barriers and odds
The table lists each runner's barrier, weight, jockey, trainer and recent form. Odds are Punt Hub's best displayed win price across the bookmakers Punt Hub compares.
No. | Horse | Barrier | Kg | Jockey | Trainer | Form | Win odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  Ceolwulf (NZ) | 1 | 59 | Chad Schofield | Joseph Pride | 11x66x5232 | $3.60 |
2 |  God's Window (GB) | 2 | 59 | Siena Grima | Chris Waller | 25x4123x51 | $31.00 |
3 |  Just Folk | 3 | 59 | Jamie Mott | Gavin Bedggood | 50x0932322 | $61.00 |
4 |  Militarize (NZ) | 6 | 59 | Zac Purton | Chris Waller | 453623x606 | $61.00 |
5 |  Autumn Glow | 4 | 57 | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 11x1113x11 | $1.45 |
6 |  Pride Of Jenni | 5 | 57 | Declan Bates | Ciaron Maher | 18x32512x1 | $7.50 |
Scratchings close on race morning. Check the live King Charles III Stakes odds before you bet.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 market overview
Autumn Glow is a short-priced favourite, with Ceolwulf and Pride Of Jenni next in the market. Autumn Glow is $1.45, Ceolwulf $3.60 and Pride Of Jenni $7.50, with God's Window at $31 and Just Folk and Militarize both $61.
The favourite has lost all three runnings since the race moved to Everest Day in 2023. Mr Brightside was beaten at $1.95 in 2023, Pride Of Jenni at $2.70 in 2024 and Mr Brightside again at $4.20 in 2025. The winners paid $5.50, $6.50 and $10.
Our King Charles III Stakes best bet: Ceolwulf
Ceolwulf can win this for the third year in a row. He is the race's two-time champion, his Epsom run was his best lead-up yet, and the rain is falling his way. Autumn Glow is the better horse on a dry track, but Saturday won't be a dry track.
He owns this race
Ceolwulf won in 2024 at $6.50, running down the $2.70 favourite Pride Of Jenni. He won again in 2025 at $10, beating the favourite Mr Brightside. He is the first horse to win it twice since Winx, and both wins came off an Epsom run.
His best Epsom lead-up yet
He was second in the Epsom on 3 October, beaten 1.68 lengths by God's Window, carrying 59kg from barrier 7 on a Soft 6 track. In 2024 he won the Epsom before winning this. In 2025 he ran sixth in the Epsom, then won this at $10. His form coming in this year is better than in either winning year.
The wetter the better
Ceolwulf has won two of his four heavy-track starts and placed in another. He won the Champions Mile at Flemington on a Heavy 9 track last November. Randwick was upgraded to a Soft 7 on Wednesday after a Heavy 8 at acceptances, and rain is forecast on each of the next three days. Joe Pride's view: "The more the better."
Barrier 1, blinkers on
He jumps from barrier 1, and blinkers go back on for the first time this preparation. Nine of the last 10 winners started from barriers 1 to 4. Pride Of Jenni's presence should mean a real tempo, which takes Autumn Glow away from the sit-and-sprint race she prefers.
The case against
Autumn Glow has beaten Ceolwulf twice this preparation: by 4.6 lengths in the Winx Stakes and by 1.5 lengths in the Seven Stakes. He has won only three of his 21 starts at Randwick. If the track dries out and the race turns into a sprint home, she is better than him at that, and Pride says so too.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 contenders and form analysis
1. Ceolwulf ($3.60)
Joseph (Joe) Pride's six-year-old gelding has won seven of his 30 starts, including the last two King Charles III Stakes, the 2024 Epsom and last year's Champions Mile. This preparation he has run fifth, second, third and second, all at Randwick. Chad Schofield, who rode both his King Charles wins, keeps the ride.
5. Autumn Glow ($1.45)
The reigning Horse of the Year has won 13 of her 14 starts, including four Group 1s, and close to $10 million. She won the Winx Stakes and the Seven Stakes this preparation, and her only defeat was third in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000 metres. She has had just one heavy-track start, over 1100 metres. We're against her on Saturday. At her price, the wet track and Ceolwulf's Epsom form are risks the market is ignoring.
6. Pride Of Jenni ($7.50)
Ciaron Maher's nine-year-old mare has won 13 of her 48 starts and more than $12.5 million. She was second in this race in 2024 as the $2.70 favourite. She returned with a win over 1600 metres at Caulfield on 27 September at $1.85. She has won one and placed in another of her four heavy-track starts, and she is likely to lead.
2. God's Window ($31.00)
The Dubawi import, formerly with John and Thady Gosden, won the Epsom at $26 from the back of the field. It was a first Group 1 for apprentice Siena Grima, and Ceolwulf was second, 1.68 lengths back. God's Window carried 50kg in the Epsom to Ceolwulf's 59kg. Under weight-for-age conditions on Saturday both carry 59kg, a 9kg swing to Ceolwulf.
The rest of the field
Militarize ($61) was 10th in the Epsom, and Zac Purton takes the ride from the outside gate.
Just Folk ($61), a 10-year-old, was second to stablemate Kingswood in the Heatherlie at Caulfield in August and placed on a Heavy 10 track at Flemington on 3 October.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 speed map and barriers
Position | Runners |
|---|---|
Leaders | Pride Of Jenni (5) |
On or near the pace | Autumn Glow (4), Just Folk (3) |
Midfield | Militarize (6) |
Back | Ceolwulf (1), God's Window (2) |
Pride Of Jenni should lead, and Autumn Glow will sit close by. Waller said he won't let the old mare "out of our sights". That sets up a genuine mile on a rain-affected track, which suits horses finishing from behind. Ceolwulf won this last year with a late burst, and barrier 1 lets him save ground before he is brought out.
History says… Nine of the last 10 winners started from barriers 1 to 4. Anamoe (barrier 8, 2022) is the only exception.
Randwick track condition and weather for the King Charles III Stakes
Randwick was rated Heavy 8 at acceptances on Wednesday and upgraded to a Soft 7 that afternoon, with the rail out 3 metres for the entire circuit. The forecast is a 70% chance of up to 5mm on Thursday, 80% and up to 7mm on Friday, and 70% and up to 5mm on Saturday. Expect a rain-affected track. Recheck the rating on race morning.
Horse | Good | Soft | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|
Ceolwulf | 19: 4-4-3 | 7: 1-0-1 | 4: 2-1-0 |
Autumn Glow | 7: 6-0-1 | 6: 6-0-0 | 1: 1-0-0 |
Pride Of Jenni | 33: 10-7-2 | 11: 2-3-2 | 4: 1-1-0 |
King Charles III Stakes trends and statistics
We analysed every winner from 2016 to 2025.
Favourites: the favourite has lost all three runnings since the move to Everest Day in 2023, after favourites won six of the seven runnings from 2016 to 2022.
Barriers: nine of the 10 winners started from barriers 1 to 4.
Mares: five of the 10 winners were mares: Winx (three times), Verry Elleegant and Fangirl.
Trainers: Chris Waller has won six of the last 10 and nine in all. Joe Pride has won the last two.
Jockeys: James McDonald won four in a row from 2020 to 2023. Chad Schofield has won the last two.
The Epsom: Ceolwulf ran in the Epsom before both his wins, and in 2024 he became the first horse to complete the Epsom and King Charles III Stakes double.
Recent King Charles III Stakes winners
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Kg | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | Ceolwulf | Chad Schofield | Joseph Pride | 4 | 59 | $10.00 |
2024 | Ceolwulf | Chad Schofield | Joseph Pride | 2 | 58.5 | $6.50 |
2023 | Fangirl | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 2 | 57 | $5.50 |
2022 | Anamoe | James McDonald | James Cummings | 8 | 58.5 | $1.65 |
2021 | Verry Elleegant | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 2 | 57 | $1.75 |
2020 | Kolding | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 3 | 58.5 | $11.00 |
2019 | Avilius | Kerrin McEvoy | James Cummings | 3 | 58.5 | $2.40 |
2018 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 4 | 57 | $1.10 |
2017 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 1 | 57 | $1.12 |
2016 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 3 | 57 | $1.09 |
In 2025, Ceolwulf beat Mr Brightside, with Pier third, in 1:34.39. Races up to 2022 were run as the George Main Stakes.
King Charles III Stakes history
The race was first run in 1945 as the George Main Stakes, named after a former Australian Jockey Club chairman, and Modulation was the first winner. It was a principal race until 1979, when it became a Group 1, and it has been run over a mile throughout. In 2011, building work at Randwick moved it to Rosehill over 1500 metres.
Tommy Smith trained 11 winners, and George Moore rode nine. Tulloch won it in 1957, and Winx won three in a row from 2016 to 2018. Her 1:33.65 in 2017 is the race record. Chris Waller has trained nine winners, more than anyone except Smith.
Renamed the King Charles III Stakes in 2023, the race moved from September to Everest Day in October, and its prizemoney rose to $5 million. It now comes a fortnight after the Epsom, which has become the key lead-up. Since the move, the betting has got it wrong every year: favourites have lost all three runnings, and Ceolwulf won the last two at $6.50 and $10. This year the market is leaning on Autumn Glow's Winx Stakes and Seven Stakes wins.
King Charles III Stakes 2026 prizemoney
1st: $2,950,000
2nd: $850,000
3rd: $425,000
4th: $210,000
5th: $125,000
6th: $75,000 (prizes from 7th to 12th won't be paid with six runners)
Equine Welfare Fund: $75,000 and Jockey Welfare Fund: $50,000
King Charles III Stakes 2026 frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 King Charles III Stakes?
The 2026 King Charles III Stakes is Race 9 at Royal Randwick on Saturday 17 October 2026, TAB Everest Day, starting at 5:35pm AEDT.
What distance is the King Charles III Stakes?
The King Charles III Stakes is run over 1609 metres, one mile, at Randwick under weight-for-age conditions for three-year-olds and upwards.
Who is the favourite for the 2026 King Charles III Stakes?
Autumn Glow, the reigning Horse of the Year, is the favourite at $1.45, with Ceolwulf ($3.60) and Pride Of Jenni ($7.50) next in the market.
What are Punt Hub's tips for the 2026 King Charles III Stakes?
Punt Hub's tip is No. 1 Ceolwulf, the two-time defending champion, who ran second in the Epsom. We're against No. 5 Autumn Glow at her short price on a wet track.
Can Ceolwulf win the King Charles III Stakes three times in a row?
Yes, Ceolwulf is chasing a third straight win after winning in 2024 and 2025. Winx is the last horse to win the race three years running, from 2016 to 2018, when it was the George Main Stakes.
What is the track condition at Randwick for the King Charles III Stakes?
Randwick was upgraded to a Soft 7 on Wednesday after a Heavy 8 at acceptances, with the rail out 3 metres. Rain is forecast every day to Saturday, so expect a rain-affected track and recheck the rating on race morning.
How many runners are in the 2026 King Charles III Stakes?
Six horses accepted: Ceolwulf, God's Window, Just Folk, Militarize, Autumn Glow and Pride Of Jenni. Chris Waller trains three of them.
How much prizemoney is the King Charles III Stakes worth?
The 2026 King Charles III Stakes is worth $5,000,000, with $2,950,000 to the winner, $850,000 for second and $425,000 for third.
Who won the King Charles III Stakes in 2025?
Ceolwulf won the 2025 King Charles III Stakes at $10 for trainer Joe Pride and jockey Chad Schofield, beating Mr Brightside, with Pier third, in 1:34.39.
What was the King Charles III Stakes called before?
The King Charles III Stakes was the George Main Stakes from 1945 until it was renamed in 2023, when it moved to Everest Day with $5 million in prizemoney.
How to watch the King Charles III Stakes
Watch live on Channel 7 and stream free on 7plus. The Australian Turf Club sells tickets for TAB Everest Day.