One of the key races at Randwick this Saturday is the King Charles III Stakes (1600m), where star mare Pride Of Jenni is a dominant favourite.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 King Charles III Stakes.
2024 King Charles III Stakes Speed Map
Pride Of Jenni…need I say more? The question is, who will drag the field up to her. The most likely option is Major Beel, who is a 2000m+ horse that can roll forward. Celestial Legend, Fangirl and Ceowulf all draw well and won’t be far off Major Beel.
2024 King Charles III Stakes Runner Preview:
1. Pericles: Pericles is the one to be entertained for exotics. He looked the winner when presented in the Hill Stakes last Saturday but for mine, he just didn’t run out the 1900m behind Attrition. Back to the mile looks ideal, he maps perfect, he should be strong late…must for exotics I say.
2. My Oberon: Wide no cover throughout in the Epsom and although held late, he was far from disgraced in defeat. I think he could press forward, sit in the first half…I think he runs well but not a first four contender.
3. Lion’s Roar: For mine, this horse is clear overs. He won a barrier trial last time aka the Wyong Cup but he was a very strong winner and he is a 2000m horse in this race that will have no issue with the mile, and he does love the Randwick mile. No idea why he is the rank outsider, near enough. He should be much shorter IMO.
4. Major Beel: The sacrificial lamb for the field. Got none.
5. New Energy: This is a horse who I feel should be nearly the rank outsider. He’s done little since arriving from overseas and his two runs back, in easier races, have been just fair. If he wins or runs first four, I am losing on the race.
6. Ceowulf: Bit surprised by the early drift for him. His Epsom win was outstanding I thought, giving them a start and a beating in an electric performance. He maps to do no work, he’ll be strong late, he’s in form…he has to be respected.
7. Celestial Legend: Celestial Legend is the bet for me if Pride Of Jenni is too short for you, which she is for me. I am a big fan of tinkering with the gear, and Les Bridge wants to sharpen him up so the Blinkers are on and the way he went in the trial with them on was outstanding. That, and he gets a huge jockey upgrade with B Shinn replacing McEvoy. If he can bounce the horse in the first half a dozen or so, gee I think he’ll run a big race.
8. Tom Kitten: I thought he did a really good job in the Epsom but in the end, he was safely held by Ceowulf and drawn tricky, I doubt he turns the tables on that horse here.
9. Pride Of Jenni: Pride Of Jenni is an iron horse and such a gun mare. She took all before her in the Feehan, gave nothing else a look in and she was much too good in an outstanding performance from the front. She loves the mile, she will lead by a space and I think she’ll just run them into the ground once again. Clearly the one to beat.
10. Fangirl: Fangirl is looking to defend her title after winning this race with such authority last year. She comes here with fresh legs after an arrogant win in the 7 Stakes where she looked a moral on paper and duly saluted, winning quite comfortably. Tick over trial was good and yes, she’ll be chasing from a fair way out, but this is her pet track and we know Waller horses in a Grand Final, they grow wings. But, with Jenni here, she is going to find a very different race shape vs what she has faced this prep. For mine, she’s clear unders.
11. Zougotcha: No rider booked yet tells me she’s being scratched.
12. Amelia’s Jewel: It’s amazing me to think that they are going to ride her cold given they think they’ve been riding her warm this prep. If she goes back to near last, she may as well be $101+. Talented mare, but she’s not a proper WFA horse I feel.
2024 King Charles III Stakes $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win/$80 Place Celestial Legend (Best of the Best via Topsport)
Group l Strategy Outlay: $1400
Group l Strategy Return: $865
2024 King Charles III Stakes Odds:
