Sydney’s TJ Smith Stakes 2018 during ‘The Championships’ remains a possible autumn option for the Gerald Ryan-trained three-year-old Menari this autumn.

Menari is likely to kick off in the 2018 The Galaxy at the end of March this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Snitzel colt will be aimed at one or more major sprints during his next-up preparation, while Golden Rose winning stablemate Trapeze Artist is Randwick Guineas 2018 bound over the mile.

Menari, who ran fourth to gun filly She Will Reign in the Group 1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) last March, hasn’t raced since his third to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 23.

That followed two impressive wins at the track when completing The Rosebud – Run To The Rose double.

He jumped $2.40 favourite in the Golden Rose Stakes but couldn’t keep up with the blistering early pace set by Ryan’s all-the-way winner Trapeze Artist who saluted in an upset at 40/1.

After undergoing a subsequent wind operation, Menari is back in work but not likely to resume until March 24 in the Group 1 $700,000 The Galaxy (1100m) on Golden Slipper Day.

“He only came back into work just before Christmas so he’s only had around four weeks work,” Ryan explained to Racing Victoria.

“He’s only trotting and cantering but he’ll start fast work next week and his breathing is really good.”

The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Russian Revolution (2017) won last autumn’s The Galaxy first-up as a three-year-old following a fourth in the previous year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes.

He was the third three-year-old to take out the short-distanced sprint since 2009 and Menari is the current second-favourite in futures The Galaxy betting to be the next.

All-in The Galaxy odds at online bookmakers currently listed Redzel as the one to beat, Team Snowden’s The Everest – Darley Classic winning sprint star to resume in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington in Melbourne on February 17.

Redzel, who trialled on Monday morning at Rosehill running seventh in a 900m heat won by Classic Uniform that also featured Winx (6^th), also heads early markets on the Group 1 $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

Held at Royal Randwick on April 7, the TJ Smith Stakes is the autumn’s premium sprint race and is also being considered for Menari.

Menari pays $13 in the latest TJ Smith Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au, equal with Darren Weir’s Japanese import Brave Smash who ran third in The Everest last October and trailing only Redzel ($5) and three-time defending champion Chautauqua ($9).

“Depending on how he runs first up we’ll then aim towards either the T.J. Smith or the Arrowfield against his own age,” Ryan added.

“For what he was able to do with the problem he’s had, if [the operation] has been successful then who knows where he might end up.”

Run on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’, April 14, the Group 2 $600,000 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) was won last year by Derryn who improved on a lead-up TJ Smith Stakes eighth the weekend prior.

To back Menari over the autumn at the right price, including in futures 2018 TJ Smith Stakes betting, visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.