Ceolwulf draws barrier one as six accept for King Charles III Stakes

Two-time winner Ceolwulf will jump from barrier one in Saturday’s $5 million Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over 1609 metres at Randwick, where six horses have accepted.

Autumn Glow, the Chris Waller-trained race favourite, has drawn barrier four. Pride Of Jenni is alongside her in five.

Waller has three of the six runners: Autumn Glow, God’s Window and Militarize, which has the outside gate.

Ceolwulf is chasing a third consecutive King Charles after winning in 2024 and 2025. His last two starts were placings behind Waller runners. He finished third when Autumn Glow won the Group 2 7 Stakes, a result that took her record to 13 wins and a third from 14 starts. He was then beaten 1¾ lengths by God’s Window in the Epsom.

Pride Of Jenni, who most recently won the Feehan Stakes at Caulfield, was second to Ceolwulf in the 2024 King Charles and seventh last year.

Waller told Racing NSW he had adjusted Autumn Glow’s preparation with Pride Of Jenni’s pace in mind.

“We did a little more work leading into the race, not fast work. Just slow work, just stamina,” he said.

Of Ceolwulf, he said: “He’s won on these big days before, he will be stalking us and not letting us out of our sights, so he needs to be respected.”