Filly adds another layer to intriguing 2025 King Charles III Stakes

Bjorn Baker is set to take on the established stars of Australian racing with an audacious move — entering his three-year-old filly Within The Law in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Randwick this Saturday.

In a bold move rarely seen in modern racing, Baker’s filly will face seasoned weight-for-age performers including Mr Brightside, Fangirl, Pride Of Jenni, and defending champion Ceolwulf. Despite never racing outside her own age group, Baker is confident the timing and race conditions present a unique opportunity.

“It’s something that hasn’t been tried, in recent times anyway, a three-year-old filly up against the older horses,” Baker said.

“It works out with timing.

“She was a good second in the Flight Stakes which was a relatively slowly run race. It looks to be a truly run race on Saturday.

“Then we have the option whether we go down to Melbourne two weeks later or we back her up in the Spring Champion (Stakes).

“She is in great order and she’s very genuine. It’s a tough ask but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”

Rachel King will take the ride on the lightly weighted filly, who carries just 48kg under the weight-for-age scale. She joins stablemate Pericles, who will again be partnered by Josh Parr after a strong preparation that includes victory in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) and a third placing in the Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Baker said Pericles is perfectly positioned to run a career-best race third-up from a low barrier.

“I was lucky enough to get a readymade horse off Godolphin and he’s been very straightforward,” Baker said.

“He was very good in the Tramway when he won first-up and he was excellent in the Epsom Handicap when he’d had four weeks between runs.

“The two weeks now into the King Charles, he is perfectly set up.”

Baker will saddle a remarkable 16 runners across Randwick’s feature meeting — the most he’s ever fielded at a single program — a reflection of the stable’s growing depth and focus on Sydney racing.

“I’m Sydney centric and we focus on Sydney,” Baker said.

“A lot of what we have been doing has been built around this day.”

While all eyes will be on his Group 1 runners, Baker has also pinpointed Perfumist in the Angst Stakes as a strong winning chance.

“I’ve got Perfumist in the Angst Stakes and she’s in great order. She often takes a while to work into form but once she is in form she holds it,” he said.

“She is probably the best of the day.”

Punters can back Within The Law or Pericles in the King Charles III Stakes through Australia’s top betting sites, which rank among the most searched platforms on Google for the best horse racing odds, bonuses, and promotions.