The King Charles III Stakes 2024 is shaping up as a battle of the mares with Pride Of Jenni holding narrow favouritism over the defending champion Fangirl in Saturday’s $5 million clash at Randwick.

The Everest Day lights-up Sydney’s premier course with a plethora of high-stakes showdowns scheduled including the official second running of the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m).

Trainer Chris Waller has taken out the event, formerly known as the George Main Stakes and held in September, nine times previously after Fangirl saluted last spring.

She returns looking to take her trainer’s victories into double-figures and go back-to-back after her excellent second-up victory here in the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) on September 21.

Fangirl has been kept fresh since and drew a treat in barrier four for James McDonald.

Current King Charles III Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have the six-year-old daughter of Sebring, a winner of over $8.4 million to date, at $3.70.

The challenger sitting top of the odds to stop Fangirl’s reign is the Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni.

This mighty mare won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in an incredible all-the-way effort by 6.5 lengths in the autumn.

She is also a last start winner having defeated Mr Brightside and subsequent Toorak Handicap champ by a runaway margin, Antino, in Moonee Valley’s Group 2 Feehan Stakes.

Pride Of Jenni is drawn wider out in gate 11 for Declan Bates so will have work to do if she plans to cross and lead them around again, which no doubt she will.

Still, she’s an exciting go-forward mare ready to give them something to chase who held Fangirl’s measure last spring winning the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington.

Outside of the dominant two in the markets the other single figure fancy in top form is the Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf in gate two for Chad Schofield.

The Tavistock four-year-old has been the picture of consistency this prep culminating with his Group 1 Epsom Handicap triumph at this course and distance on October 5.

He only carried 54kg that day and goes up to 58.5kg at WFA but loves the track and looks to be going from strength-to-strength with plenty of improvement still to come.

Other notably King Charles III Stakes horses in the mix include Randwick Guineas – Doncaster Mile double champion Celestial Legend drawn the rails and Group 1 winning WA expat Amelia’s Jewel now with Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald.

The 2024 King Charles III Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 9 at 5:35pm (AEDT) as the penultimate event on the 10-race card with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

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