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The TJ Smith Stakes is a Group 1 race held towards the end of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ at Royal Randwick. A 1200m sprint, the TJ Smith Stakes is a weight-for-age event worth a lucrative $3 million in prize money.

For the 2020 edition, the TJ Smith Stakes prizemoney was reduced to $1.25 million to help reduce the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but was back up to $2.5 million again in 2021 before being boosted to $3 million ahead of the 2023 edition.

This race should not be confused with former The TJ Smith, a Group 1 race run in June during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival for two-year-olds, now called the JJ Atkins.

The TJ Smith Stakes takes place on Doncaster Mile Day alongside three other Group 1 races with the running of the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m), $2 million Australian Derby (2400m), and $1 million ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).

The 2019/20 Australian Racehorse of the Year Nature Strip enjoyed back-to-back wins when successfully defending his title in the 2021 TJ Smith Stakes ahead of his The Everest win that spring in the world’s richest turf race.

In 2022 Nature Strip emulating Chautauqua (2015-17) becoming the second three-time TJ Smith Stakes winner with a runaway three and a half-length win.

The 2022 TJ Smith Stakes form was franked with Nature Strip heading overseas to win England’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes by over four lengths at Royal Ascot next start.

Nature Strip returned as favourite in the 2023 TJ Smith Stakes looking to make history, but only managed to run fourth behind Peter Moody’s last-to-first champion I Wish I Win.

I Wish I Win franked the TJ Smith Stakes 2023 form going on to enjoy a strong spring headlined by his second in the $20 million The Everest.

The 2023 TJ Smith runner-up Giga Kick meanwhile won the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at his next start that autumn as well as the winter’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in Brisbane.

I Wish I Win returned to defend his title in the 2024 TJ Smith Stakes but only managed to run third behind his 20/1 stablemate Chain Of Lightning.

The $3 million 2024 TJ Smith Stakes ran on Saturday April 6, 2024 on Day 1 of The Championships and was won in a narrow upset by the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained mare Chain Of Lightning ($21). 

TJ Smith Stakes 2024
Date:	Saturday April 6, 2024
Track:	Randwick Racecourse
Distance:	1200m
Conditions:	Weight-for-age
Status:	Group 1
Prize Money:	$3,000,000
Inaugurated:	1997

Because of the position of the TJ Smith Stakes towards the end of the autumn carnival, punters have a range of lead-up races to gauge the fitness and form of the runners before placing their TJ Smith bets.

Good preparation races include the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) run in Melbourne the month before as well as the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight earlier. The last horse to complete the Newmarket Handicap – TJ Smith Stakes interstate double was Lankan Rupee (2014).

The subsequent two TJ Smith Stakes winners following Lankan Rupee also came off a lead-up run in the Newmarket Handicap with back-to-back champion Chautauqua running 2nd in 2015 and 3rd in 2016. Chautauqua made TJ Smith Stakes history in 2017 when successfully defending his dual titles to become the first three-time winner of the sprint classic.

In 2023 I Wish I Win won the TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney off a lead-up third in the Newmarket Handicap results.

Horses may finish up their autumn campaign in Sydney by running in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) held two weeks after the TJ Smith Stakes is run and won.

Recent All Aged Stakes winners to come off a TJ Smith Stakes start include Giga Kick (2nd in 2023), English (3rd in 2016), Hay List (2nd in 2011), and Hot Danish (2nd in 2010).

The latest sprinters to complete the double are Bentley Biscuit (2007) and Shamekha (2005) both trained by Gai Waterhouse, and Trapeze Artist who won the TJ Smith Stakes – All Aged Stakes double in 2018.

2024 TJ Smith Stakes Results

• 1st: #14 Chain Of Lightning ($21)
• 2nd: #9 Bella Nipotina
• 3rd: #1 I Wish I Win

Chain Of Lightning ($21) was given a beautiful ride by Damian Lane at WFA in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes with the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained mare handling a big rise in class to score a narrow but convincing upset in the sprint feature at Randwick.

Click here to read more on the TJ Smith Stakes 2024 upset result by Chain Of Lightning.

2024 TJ Smith Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 TJ Smith Stakes Betting Odds

Early all-in 2024 TJ Smith Stakes odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au on the hopeful sprinters heading towards the Group 1 classic sprint will be listed below as soon as available.

Nature Strip ($4.20 in 2020, $3.10 in 2021 and $2.30 in 2022) was the last favourite in TJ Smith Stakes betting to salute in his three consecutive victories.

Nature Strip started the $4.80 favourite in the 2023 race, but only managed to run fourth to I Wish I Win who scored an upset at TJ Smith Stakes odds of $9.

There was a notable upset in 2024 with Chain Of Lightning winning at TJ Smith Stakes odds of $21.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 TJ SMITH STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2024 TJ Smith Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 TJ SMITH STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 TJ Smith Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider TJ Smith Stakes 2024 betting tips and best bets to be published below the week of the race.

• To Win: #8 Imperatriz ($3.30 at time of publish) – BET NOW

The TJ Smith Stakes shapes up as a thrilling contest, but Imperatriz remains a compelling choice for punters seeking a potential narrow victory. Mark Walker’s exceptional mare boasts a remarkable record of ten Group 1 wins and is undeniably a star performer. While adapting to the Sydney racing style and a different track from her Moonee Valley dominance are factors to consider, her recent William Reid Stakes win and overall fitness make her the clear class leader. Drawn mid-field with her regular rider Opie Bosson aboard, Imperatriz appears in top form and holds a weight advantage over her rivals. Her proven ability in wet track conditions and past victories against many of these competitors solidify her position as the deserved favorite.

*All odds quoted are provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, correct at time of print and subject to change.

2024 TJ Smith Stakes Field

The TJ Smith Stakes field attracts the autumn’s best sprinters shooting for a share in the lucrative prize money on offer in the Group 1 feature on the opening day of April’s ‘The Championships’ and is released on the Tuesday before Doncaster Mile Day.

The official 2024 TJ Smith Stakes field and barriers are set to be released by Racing NSW on Tuesday April 2, 2024 and will be published in full below.

The TJ Smith Stakes 2024 final field features a class line-up of autumn sprinters led in betting by Mark Walker’s 10-time Group 1 winning mare Imperatriz and the defending champion I Wish I Win drawn barrier four for jockey James McDonald.

• Update: #2 Private Eye (14) and #12 Cylinder (7) have been scratched due to the Heavy (10) track rating.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2024 TJ Smith Stakes field and betting markets.

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Probable Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	51x231x32x	I WISH I WIN (NZ)	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	James McDonald	4	58.5kg			117
2	05x132x260	PRIVATE EYE	Joseph Pride	Blake Shinn	14	58.5kg			112
3	363x9054x5	MAZU	Joseph Pride	Tim Clark	12	58.5kg			109
4	x3441x2545	COAL CRUSHER	Joseph Pride	Tyler Schiller	10	58.5kg			108
5	x154149x30	AFT CABIN	James Cummings	Zac Purton	8	58.5kg			106
6	7x1382x490	BUENOS NOCHES	Matthew Smith	Ben Melham	15	58.5kg			106
7	7x244x2712	JOHNNY ROCKER	Nick Ryan	Mark Zahra	3	58.5kg			106
8	1x1111x121	IMPERATRIZ	Mark Walker	Opie Bosson	6	56.5kg			119
9	x33315x454	BELLA NIPOTINA	Ciaron Maher	Craig Williams	11	56.5kg			113
10	7x21714x33	ESPIONA	Chris Waller	Nash Rawiller	13	56.5kg			113
11	13121x1x2	SUNSHINE IN PARIS	Annabel Neasham	Jason Collett	9	56.5kg			111
12	x11350x610	CYLINDER	James Cummings	Ms Jamie Kah	7	56.5kg			109
13	x13x5131x6	MAGIC TIME	Grahame Begg	Michael Dee	1	56.5kg			109
14	464x370x01	CHAIN OF LIGHTNING	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Damian Lane	2	56.5kg			106
15	x5x46555x2	WILLINGA BEAST	Kris Lees	Dylan Gibbons (a)	5	56.5kg			83

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2024 TJ Smith Stakes Nominations

The TJ Smith Stakes nominations are taken two months out from the race in early February and attract around 100 hopefuls heading towards the autumn classic run over 1200m at Randwick Racecourse.

The TJ Smith Stakes 2024 nominations close at midday on Tuesday the 13th of February, 2024. 

Sparks will fly in the 2024 TJ Smith Stakes with 62 sprinters making up the early entries. Leading the charge is the mighty Imperatriz, trained by Mark Walker. This eight-time Group 1 champion and queen of the short trip looks to add another jewel to her crown after her upcoming first-up test in the Black Caviar Lightning on February 17th. Standing in her path is the defending champion, I Wish I Win, prepared by the formidable Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman. This speedster will be hungry to retain his title. Adding another layer of excitement is Private Eye, trained by the ever-strategic Joe Pride. This two-time The Everest placegetter has unfinished business and is aiming to finally break through for a major win.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Hcp Rating
1	21x154149x	AFT CABIN	H	4	James Cummings
2	5x11x3128x	AIRMAN	G	4	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
3	32x1165x	ARCTIC GLAMOUR	F	3	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	77
4	236x33315x	BELLA NIPOTINA	M	6	Ciaron Maher
5	1113x1134x	BENEDETTA	M	4	Jason Warren	102
6	8x32132x1x	BRAVE MEAD	C	3	Ciaron Maher
7	3x57x1382x	BUENOS NOCHES	H	4	Matthew Smith	111
8	81395×11	CABALLUS	C	3	Bjorn Baker	90
9	99464x370x	CHAIN OF LIGHTNING	M	5	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
10	3410x3441x	COAL CRUSHER	G	6	Joseph Pride	109
11	73x206924x	CROSSHAVEN	G	6	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
12	127x11350x	CYLINDER	C	3	James Cummings
13	116545x13x	DASHING LEGEND	M	4	Joseph Pride	90
14	426x78330x	DON CORLEONE	C	3	Peter & Paul Snowden
15	117x21714x	ESPIONA	M	5	Chris Waller
16	1226×1	ESTRIELLA	F	3	Ciaron Maher
17	2x522x120x	FACILE	F	3	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	80
18	0x8826x16x	FRONT PAGE	G	7	Matthew Dale
19	11x10x	GRAND IMPACT (NZ)	H	4	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
20	51x65111x7	GRIFF	C	3	Ciaron Maher	106
21	2113x6265x	HAWAII FIVE OH	H	4	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	110
22	117x16122x	I AM ME	M	5	Ciaron Maher
23	11x3222x	I AM UNSTOPPABLE	C	3	Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans
24	51x231x32x	I WISH I WIN (NZ)	G	5	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	117
25	1121x1111x	IMPERATRIZ	M	5	Mark Walker
26	9x1117x7x1	KALLOS	G	5	James Cummings
27	1x233x31x	KING’S GAMBIT	C	3	Peter & Paul Snowden	92
28	21x08x4x	KRISTILLI	F	3	Annabel Neasham	84
29	111Lx	LEARNING TO FLY	F	3	Annabel Neasham	90
30	11x187x	LIBERTAD	C	3	Annabel Neasham
31	1x13x5131x	MAGIC TIME	M	4	Grahame Begg
32	5363x9054x	MAZU	G	5	Joseph Pride	110
33	0x926x202x	MERITABLE	H	5	Mark Minervini	85
34	12260×4	MORAVIA	C	3	Michael Freedman	87
35	26x1306x	NADAL	C	3	Ciaron Maher
36	90x12x201x	OVERPASS	G	5	Bjorn Baker
37	11x131x	OZZMOSIS	C	3	Bjorn Baker
38	111x4x108x	PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE	M	5	Grahame Begg
39	x1616x999x	PO KARE KARE (NZ)	M	5	Bryce Heys	93
40	7x405x132x	PRIVATE EYE	G	6	Joseph Pride	116
41	28x27415x0	QUEEN OF THE BALL	M	4	Michael Freedman
42	833x58126x	QUICK TEMPO	G	5	Mark Minervini	90
43	x21623123x	RECOMMENDATION	G	4	Ciaron Maher
44	112x	RED RESISTANCE	C	3	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	88
45	18x147x15x	REMARQUE	G	5	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	108
46	2211x	ROLL ON HIGH	F	3	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
47	0150x7527x	RUTHLESS DAME (NZ)	M	4	Ciaron Maher	110
48	141x	SCHWARZ	C	3	John O’Shea
49	0412x7113x	SHE DANCES	M	4	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
50	800x87077x	SHELBY SIXTYSIX	G	7	Danny Williams	82
51	3211x993x	SHINZO	C	3	Chris Waller
52	122x21615x	SKEW WIFF (NZ)	M	4	Mark Walker
53	x18111243x	STRAIT ACER	G	4	Edward Cummings	106
54	13121x1x	SUNSHINE IN PARIS	M	4	Annabel Neasham
55	062725x95x	THE ASTROLOGIST	G	7	Leon & Troy Corstens
56	1x111x113x	THINK ABOUT IT	G	5	Joseph Pride	118
57	42x11169x	TIZ INVINCIBLE	F	3	Ciaron Maher	92
58	14x1525x14	VEIGHT	C	3	Tony & Calvin McEvoy
59	189x05121x	WEST OF DALBY	F	3	Benjamin Smith	79
60	1x11x	WHAT YOU NEED	H	4	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	89
61	5x5x46555x	WILLINGA BEAST	M	4	Kris Lees
62	133x3506x3	ZAPATEO	M	5	James Cummings

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

TJ Smith Stakes History

The TJ Smith Stakes is one of the youngest Sydney races, first run in 1997. Mahogany won the inaugural race, which was then called the Endeavour Stakes and only held listed status. The following year in 1998, the race was renamed in honour of the renowned trainer Tommy Smith and also received Group 3 status. The event worked its way up quickly, elevated to Group 2 status in 2003 and only two years later in 2005 gained Group 1 status.

A host of champion sprinters have won the TJ Smith Stakes over the years including Black Caviar (2011 and 2013), triple hero Chautauqua (2015-17), and the Chris Waller-trained star Nature Strip (2020, 2021, 2022) who emulated the ‘Grey Flash’ as the event’s second three-time winner.

A new TJ Smith Stakes record was set in 2018 by the three-year-old winner Trapeze Artist who flew home in 1 minute 8.29 seconds, surpassing the previous best time in the event from Black Caviar in 2011.

Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody would return over a decade later and win the 2023 edition of the TJ Smith Stakes with I Wish I Win.

Moody was back in 2024 winning the TJ Smith Stakes in an upset with Chain Of Lightning who he trained in partnership with Katherine Coleman while I Wish I Win ran third after his victory the year prior.

See below for the full TJ Smith Stakes results dating back to 2000.

TJ Smith Stakes Records
Race Record:	1:8.29 seconds – set by Trapeze Artist (2018)
Most Successful Jockey:	Tommy Berry – 3 wins on Chautauqua (2015-17)

Recent TJ Smith Stakes Winners

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2024 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	#14 Chain Of Lightning	1 minute 10.40 seconds
	2nd	#9 Bella Nipotina
	3rd	#1 I Wish I Win
2023 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	I Wish I Win	1 minute 11.79 seconds
	2nd	Giga Kick
	3rd	Mazu
2022 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Nature Strip	1 minute 12.33 seconds
	2nd	Eduardo
	3rd	Paulele
2021 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Nature Strip	1 minute 10.09 seconds
	2nd	Masked Crusader
	3rd	Eduardo
2020 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Nature Strip	1 minute 11.18 seconds
	2nd	Santa Ana Lane
	3rd	Redzel
2019 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Santa Ana Lane	1 minute 10.65 seconds
	2nd	Osborne Bulls
	3rd	Sunlight
2018 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Trapeze Artist	1 minute 8.29 seconds
	2nd	Redzel
	3rd	In  Her Time
2017 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Chautauqua	1 minute 12.44 seconds
	2nd	English
	3rd	Fell Swoop
2016 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Chautauqua	1 minute 10.1 seconds
	2nd	Fell Swoop
	3rd	Chautauqua
2015 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Chautauqua	1 minute 11.04 seconds
	2nd	Lord Of The Sky
	3rd	Terravista
2014 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Lankan Rupee	1 minute 12.1 seconds
	2nd	Rebel Dane
	3rd	Buffering
2013 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Black Caviar	1 minute 9.7 seconds
	2nd	Epaulette
	3rd	Bel Sprinter
2012 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Master of Design	1 minute 8.8 seconds
	2nd	Rain Affair
	3rd	Hallowell Belle
2011 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Black Caviar	1 minute 8.7 seconds
	2nd	Hay List
	3rd	Triple Honour
2010 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Melito	1 minute 9.2 seconds
	2nd	Hot Danish
	3rd	Mic Mac
2009 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Takeover Target	1 minute 9 seconds
	2nd	Northern Meteor
	3rd	Apache Cat
2008 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Apache Cat	1 minute 11.8 seconds
	2nd	Reigning To Win
	3rd	Takeover Target
2007 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Bentley Biscuit	1 minute 10.6 seconds
	2nd	Black Ink
	3rd	Virage De Fortune
2006 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Red Oog	1 minute 9.8 seconds
	2nd	Glamour Puss
	3rd	Snitzel
2005 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Shamekha	1 minute 12.1 seconds
	2nd	Fastnet Rock
	3rd	Only Words
2004 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Dilly Dally	1 minute 9.9 seconds
	2nd	Legally Bay
	3rd	Mistegic
2003 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Spinning Hill	1 minute 10.7 seconds
	2nd	Yell
	3rd	Bel Esprit
2002 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Phoenix Park	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	Fair Embrace
	3rd	Spinning Hill
2001 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Century Kid	1 minute 9.8 seconds
	2nd	Spinning Hill
	3rd	Flavelon
2000 TJ Smith Stakes	1st	Shy Hero	1 minute 39.3 seconds
	2nd	Easy Rocking
	3rd	High Rolling

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