Huge King Charles III Randwick rumour has racing world in a spin

Australia’s horse racing community is in a spin with rumours that King Charles III will be at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

King Charles will touch down in Sydney tonight (Friday), just in time for the running of the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) late on Saturday afternoon (17.35pm AEDT).

Watch The Everest live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport this Saturday

While it is yet to be confirmed, it is widely speculated that the King and and Queen Camilla will be trackside to present the trophy to winner of the king’s race.

Pride of Jenni is the hot favourite to win the race, but star trainer Chris Waller’s Fangirl (second in markets) won it last year and is certain to be around the mark again.

Waller is hoping to make it a record-breaking 10th victory in the race (formerly known as the George Main Stakes).

“It would be a huge honour not just for myself but I think the racing public at Royal Randwick if the King came on Saturday,’’ Waller said.

“We had (the late) Queen Elizabeth II visit previously and it would be fitting if King Charles and Queen Camilla could make it this year.

“To have that royal touch on Everest Day would be pretty special.’’

Trainer Annabel Neasham also has top contenders in the $20 million Everest and the King Charles, with Amelia’s Jewel and My Oberon featuring in the King Charles.

Neasham previously worked at Royal Stud in Sandringham and said the Royals “were all very lovely”.

“It was probably nine or 10 years ago (when I met them) and probably a year before I moved to Australia,” she said.

“She (Queen Elizabeth) would come to look at them (the horses) when she was there ... you could tell when she was there, it was in her home.

“It was her hobby and passion, loved horses and racing but it was probably the horse she really loved.”

Neasham will be hoping her horse Sunshine In Paris can cause an upset in The Everest, in what is shaping as a wide-open event.

Trainer Adrian Bott believes the presence of four three-year-olds adds intrigue to the $20 million sprint and is hoping his two three-year-olds (colt Storm Boy and filly Lady Of Camelot) can salute.

Joining them in the elite 12-horse line-up is the James Cummings-trained colt Traffic Warden and Ciaron Maher-trained colt Growing Empire, making it the most number of three-year-olds to ever have contested an Everest.

Storm Boy was confirmed early this week to run in the slot of Coolmore Stud and Bott says the high-profile colt has freshened well since his fourth placing in the Golden Rose.

“I think it’s an open race and it’s intriguing with the presence of the three-year-olds,” Bott said, when assessing Storm Boy’s Everest hopes.

“I think he (Storm Boy) is every bit as good as all those three-year-olds that are taking their place.

“He certainly deserves his spot there.

“He’ll make his presence felt and if the three-year-olds are up to it and can take on the older horses at this stage - which they’ve proven they can in this particular race - then yeah, he’s right in the mix.

“We just need a few things to go his way. A nice clean break, some good weather on the day I think will be relatively key as well.”

Two three-year-olds have won The Everest in its seven previous runnings, with colt Yes Yes Yes successful in 2019 and gelding Giga Kick winning two years ago.

This year’s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot will be the first three-year-old filly to contest an Everest since three fillies - Tulip, Houtzen and She Will Reign - all ran in the first edition of the race in 2017.

Lady Of Camelot is the outsider of the field in betting markets but Bott is certainly not discounting her.

“She’s going better than what the market will suggest,” Bott said.

“Her first-up run at weight-for-age was excellent when she stuck on great in the Moir.

“She’s had a bit of time to build towards this and she looks the best she has.”

Storm Boy, to be ridden by Brenton Avdulla, has barrier five while Rachel King has the ride on Lady Of Camelot from the second widest barrier.

“Storm Boy’s got tactical speed,” Bott said.

“I know his gate speed itself has been a little bit questioned previously but I thought he’s shown good improvement in that.

“He musters really well and I think he can take advantage of it from that draw.

“Lady Of Camelot is a little bit more versatile but at the same time she might need to use a bit of speed to offset that draw, she could end up in an awkward position otherwise.

“So she’s most likely to press forward as well.”

Sixth placings to both English (2017) and Hawaii Five Oh (2023) have been the Waterhouse-Bott stable’s best Everest results from four previous runners in the race.

- With RAS NewsWire