Chris Waller’s dual defending champion and reigning $15 million The Everest winner Nature Strip headlines the TJ Smith Stakes 2022 nominations and all-in odds on the $2.5 million sprint this autumn.

Nature Strip (pictured) is out to emulate Chautauqua as a three-time TJ Smith Stakes winner in 2022. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Racing NSW took nominations for all the Group 1 races across the two days of The Championships in April including those for the T.J. Smith Stakes, the 1200m weight-for-age feature attracting 63 early entries ahead of the April 2 race date.

Five of those hail from the Waller stable, the master trainer chasing his third straight win following the back-to-back victories of his brilliant Nicconi gelding Nature Strip.

The now seven-year-old has amassed over $16 million in prize money, his stakes greatly boosted by his victory in last October’s edition of the world’s richest turf race.

Nature Strip backed up from his The Everest win to power home for a dominant three length victory in Flemington’s Group 1 VRC Classic (1200m) and early money suggests he will be equally as dominant in 2022.

He has won the past two editions of the TJ Smith Stakes by a combined four lengths and is the deserving $3.60 favourite in futures markets for a record equalling third through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Success would see Nature Strip join the grey flash Chautauqua (2015-17) as a three-time consecutive TJ Smith Stakes winner.

Waller’s other nominees are: undefeated filly Espiona nominated for a host of Group 1s over the autumn, Coolmore Stud Stakes winning colt Home Affairs, Fastnet Rock three-year-old Ranch Hand and September Run who won the 2020 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Fellow The Everest graduates from the spring Eduardo (3rd, Masked Crusader (2nd) and Lost And Running (4th) are among the other standout TJ Smith Stakes nominations in 2022 paying $6, $8 and $14 respectively in the latest pre-field markets.

The Joe Pride-trained Eduardo was third to Nature Strip in last year’s TJ Smith Stakes trifecta on the back of his The Galaxy win at Rosehill and was excellent in the winter winning Brisbane’s Doomben 10,000 as the odds-on favourite.

Following The Everest he enjoyed a consolation win in the $1 million Classique Legend Stakes and looks on track for his autumn return winning two recent Randwick trials.

Masked Crusader from the stables of Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes is also looking to turn the tables on Nature Strip in the race following a second in the TJ Smith last year following his William Reid Stakes victory at The Valley that preparation.

Lost And Running meanwhile finished fourth in The Everest, second in the Classique Legend Stakes and then went to Newcastle and won the $1 million The Hunter over the 1300m during a very nice spring for the John O’Shea-trained Per Incanto gelding.

Other notable TJ Smith Stakes nominations include Ciaron Maher & David Eustace’s undefeated Australia Stakes winning mare Marabi, Godolphin’s Caulfield Guineas champ Anamoe and Golden Rose winning colt In The Congo for the race’s seven-time winning trainer Waterhouse.

The 2022 TJ Smith Stakes first acceptances close on Tuesday the 8^th of March and updated futures markets on the event courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au are available here.

2022 TJ Smith Stakes Nominations

Table Credit: Racing Australia.