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]
| Group 1 race | |
 San Domenico & Arthur Ward, 1950 winner | |
| 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
† Not held because of outbreak of equine influenza[44]