The dual-defending champion Chautauqua is the headline entry among the TJ Smith Stakes 2017 nominations taken for the autumn Group 1 sprint feature this week by Racing NSW.

Two-time winner of the sprint classic Chautauqua headlines the 2017 TJ Smith Stakes nominations this autumn. Photo: Steve Hart.

All feature race nominations The Championships this April closed on Monday and record entries were received across the board including 75 top sprinters for the $2.5 million Group 1 Darley TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

Held on Day 1, Saturday April 1, the TJ Smith Stakes nominations for 2017 are dominated by two-time winner Chautauqua from the Hawkes Racing stables.

The five-time Group 1 winner and $6.5 million earner is out to make history with a third TJ Smith Stakes win in as many years this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Chautauqua, also an elite level winner overseas after his Chairman’s Sprint success in Hong Kong last May, hasn’t raced since a Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) seventh beaten two lengths by the upset winner Rebel Dane at Moonee Valley last October.

He is set to run first-up this weekend in Caulfield’s Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m), a race he won back in 2015.

Chautauqua leads pre-field TJ Smith Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au currently paying $5 for the win.

Hawkes Racing co-trainer John Hawkes additionally won the race back in 1999 with Ab Initio and along with Chautauqua the team also have Kaepernick and Star Turn nominated for this year’s edition.

Star Turn is a $12 shot in futures TJ Smith Stakes odds to become the first three-year-old winner of the race since the filly Melito (2010) and the first male of the age to be successful since Century Kid (2001).

A son of Star Witness, Star Turn took out the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) defeating subsequent Darley Classic winner Malaguerra by over two lengths last October.

He was last seen crossing third to Flying Artie in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight on Derby Day last Melbourne Cup Carnival.

In total 23 three-year-olds feature in the TJ Smith Stakes nominations this year including the gun Mick Price-trained duo of Extreme Choice and Flying Artie.

The duo ran first and second in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes in Melbourne last autumn and have both enjoyed Group 1 success since.

Not A Single Doubt colt Extreme Choice beat the older sprinters home in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m), while Artie Schiller colt Flying Artie won the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Other headline three-year-olds in TJ Smith Stakes contention include the John O’Shea-trained Golden Rose winner and Coolmore Stud Stakes runner-up Astern, his stablemate Impending who ran third in the Golden Rose and fourth in the Caulfield Guineas, and Shane Nichols’ Myer Classic winning filly I Am A Star.

I Am A Star holds a host of The Championships nominations including also the Doncaster Mile, Queen Of The Turf Stakes and Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.

Other notable nominees include Darley Classic runner-up Spieth, the Darren Weir-trained Black Heart Bart, Gai Waterhouse’s All Aged Stakes winning mare English and the aforementioned Darley Classic winner Malaguerra.

The TJ Smith Stakes first acceptances close on Tuesday March 7, 2017.

Check out the full 2017 TJ Smith Stakes Nominations by following the link, then head to Ladbrokes.com.au for the best futures betting at the home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).