Everything that does not change about the TJ Smith Stakes: how the race works, how to bet it, its history and its past winners. For this year’s field, tips and best bets, see the TJ Smith Stakes race page.
TJ Smith Stakes Tips
The TJ Smith Stakes is the richest Group 1 race in Australia and therefore attracts the best sprinters in the land.
Early April weather is unpredictable in Sydney and the TJ Smith Stakes could be run on anything from a Good 3 track to a rain-affected Heavy 10.
Our experts assess all the TJ Smith Stakes horses, their form, barrier draws, speedmap and more to help come up with our betting pointers and tips to help you back the winner.
Our expert tipsters will provide TJ Smith Stakes tips once the field has been finalised.
TJ SMITH STAKES BETTING PROMOS
TJ Smith Stakes Odds
Leading bookmakers Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, Neds, bet365 & Palmerbet have the latest TJ Smith Stakes betting odds available. There will be plenty of movements in the TJ Smith Stakes betting markets in the days leading up to the race. See the latest market below or click on the links to take you direct to the bookmakers.
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TJ SMITH STAKES HISTORY
An open weight-for-age sprint that takes place on Day 1 of The Championships, the TJ Smith Stakes is one of four Group 1 features on the day.
Headlined by the $3 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), the TJ Smith Stakes showcases some of the world’s best sprinters on a day which also hosts the $2 million Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) and the $1 million Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).
Mahogany won the inaugural TJ Smith Stakes in 1997 when the race was known as the Listed Endeavour Stakes.
In 1999 the race was renamed the TJ Smith Stakes in honour of Thomas John Smith (Tommy Smith) who won 33 trainers premierships.
Smith’s daughter, Gai Waterhouse, has captured the feature sprint on three occasions – Phoenix Park (2002), Shamekha (2005) and Bentley Biscuit (2007).
With $2.5 million in prizemoney the TJ Smith Stakes is fast becoming one of the most highly-regarded races on the Australian racing calendar.
Form students will be looking at three separate Group 1 features leading up to the TJ Smith Stakes as the most reliable guide when assessing a runner’s chances on Day 1 of The Championships.
The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) held at Flemington three weeks earlier, the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) held at Rosehill Gardens two weeks earlier and the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) held at Mooney Valley eight days earlier have been the best lead-up indicators into the TJ Smith Stakes.
Unbeaten champion Black Caviar won the William Reid on both occasions prior to winning both of her TJ Smith Stakes.
She won the race in 2011 and 2013 and is the headline name to have won the race.
Other notable winners of the TJ Smith Stakes include Mahogany (1997), La Baraka (1998), Phoenix Park (2002), Spinning Hill (2003), Shamekha (2005), Apache Cat (2008), Takeover Target (2009) and Lankan Rupee (2014).
Winners of the TJ Smith Stakes have recently gone on to win the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) held on the final day of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Chautauqua claimed the event in 2015 before returning with an even more emphatic victory the following year as he swept down the outside, having raced in last position for the first 800m of the race. It was a carbon-copy in 2017 with Chautauqua once again last in the field of 15 at both the 800m and 400m marks as he made it a hat-trick of wins in the TJ Smith Stakes. Jockey Tommy Berry rode the grey-bay sprinter on all three occasions.
TJ SMITH STAKES Winners (Since 2000)
| 2026 | Joliestar |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Briasa |
| 2024 | Chain Of Lightning |
| 2023 | I Wish I Win |
| 2022 | Nature Strip |
| 2021 | Nature Strip |
| 2020 | Nature Strip |
| 2019 | Santa Ana Lane |
| 2018 | Trapeze Artist |
| 2017 | Chautauqua |
| 2016 | Chautauqua |
| 2015 | Chautauqua |
| 2014 | Lankan Rupee |
| 2013 | Black Caviar |
| 2012 | Master Of Design |
| 2011 | Black Caviar |
| 2010 | Melito |
| 2009 | Takeover Target |
| 2008 | Apache Cat |
| 2007 | Bentley Biscuit |
| 2006 | Red Oog |
| 2005 | Shamekha |
| 2004 | Dilly Dally |
| 2003 | Spinning Hill |
| 2002 | Phoenix Park |
| 2001 | Century Kid |
| 2000 | Shy Hero |
TOP 5 TJ Smith Stakes Winners
See our Top 5 TJ Smith Stakes Winners.
TJ Smith Stakes Live Stream
TAB customers are able to live stream the TJ Smith Stakes free of charge courtesy of Sky Racing vision.
You can watch the action from your mobile device or desktop for every Australian thoroughbred, greyhound and harness race live.
TAB offers Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 and Sky Thoroughbred Central on their racing live streaming service.
T&Cs Apply. Vision available for all three Sky Racing channels. Data charges may apply.
Watch the TJ Smith Stakes with TAB:
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