The Championships descend on Royal Randwick this Saturday and Ladbrokes have gone over the full 2026 TJ Smith Stakes field providing our expert runner-by-runner preview and best bets for the sprint feature below!
We’ve got four Group 1 races in Sydney this weekend to sink our teeth into as the autumn racing action hits fever pitch, and here we focus on the star ensemble of short-distance specialists doing battle in the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
Won by a host of quality speedsters over the years including three-time heroes Chautauqua (2015-17) and Nature Strip (2020-22), the TJ Smith has attracted another class line-up in 2026.
It is the rails-drawn, dual Group 1 winning colt Tentyris leading TJ Smith Stakes betting this season, but can the three-year-old from Melbourne secure his maiden Sydney victory?
Or is there an upset pending from one of his more seasoned rivals like the always-honest Jimmysstar or Chris Waller’s flying mare Joliestar?
Read on for our expert runner-by-runner guide to the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes!
- Top 2 – No. 6 Joliestar
- Top 3 – No. 7 Tentyris
- Top 4 – No. 4 Overpass
| 6. Joliestar (5) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 53×11 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Overpass (7) J: Josh Parr 58.5kg x423x T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 7. Tentyris (1) J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg 11×15 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
No. 1 JIMMYSSTAR (2) – Ciaron Maher
JIMMYSTAR (2) occupies the second line of TJ Smith Stakes betting and is drawn favourably near the inside rail in gate two.
The consistent Per Incanto six-year-old lines-up for master horseman Ciaron Maher and was strong last campaign rounding out his spring with back-to-back wins in the Russell Balding and CF Orr at Randwick and Caulfield respectively highlighting his versatility.
Fresh on March 21 he lined up as the short favourite in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) but only managed to run seventh to Jigsaw, and he now chases atonement fitter for the run looking to add to his solid second-up record (5:2-2-1).
With his last start jockey Zahra booked to ride Saturday’s favourite Tentyris, his regular rider last prep – Ethan Brown – reunites with Jimmysstar with the hoop looking to get the best out of one of his top mounts.
He’s well proven at the Randwick track including his brave third behind Hong Kong hero Ka Ying Rising in last year’s The Everest, and his victory over Joliestar in last April’s All Aged Stakes.
That win came off his fourth to Briasa in the 2025 TJ Smith when 1.5 lengths beaten in a close finish.
He’s one of the more seasoned in the field, is versatile across many distances and won’t go down to the youngster without a fight.
| 1. Jimmysstar (2) J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg 311×7 T: Ciaron Maher |
No. 2 BRIASA (8) – Michael, Wayne & Jonn Hawkes
BRIASA (8) defends his TJ Smith Stakes title on Saturday with the Hawkes-trained grey looking to add to the strong record of gallopers going back-to-back in this six-furlong showdown.
The five-year-old son of Smart Missile did plenty fresh at Rosehill in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) crossing a devastatingly close fourth a quarter length off Marhoona in a true blanket finish.
He presents fitter for the run now and boasts a near flawless second-up record of three wins from four resuming runs to date.
Briasa is an out-and-out 1200m specialist who will relish getting up his pet distance now having won six of his eight previous runs over the trip – an imposing stat.
Tyler Schiller sticks with from wider out in gate eight giving this guy options in the run.
He’s one of the early market movers and there’s plenty to suggest a Top 4 run isn’t out of the question.
| 2. Briasa (8) J: Tyler Schiller 58.5kg 189×4 T: M, W & J Hawkes |
No. 3 GIGA KICK (6) – Clayton Douglas
Clayton Douglas’s former The Everest champ GIGA KICK (6) beat Joliestar (3rd) home in the Champions Sprint over the Melbourne Cup Carnival last November and is another single-figure runner in Saturday’s markets who has genuine claims for the title.
Giga Kick races third-up on the weekend looking to close the gap on Tentyris who he followed home two lengths back fifth in the Black Caviar.
His last start produced a fourth in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) here at Randwick on March 7 only 1.4 lengths back.
The now six-year-old son of Scissor Kick has just shy of $15 million in stakes to his name, handles all going so the predicted Soft track is a plus for him as he looks to add to his decent record at the track and trip.
Could be set to peak with lots going his way.
Watch for him late.
| 3. Giga Kick (6) J: Zac Purton 58.5kg 11×54 T: Clayton Douglas |
No. 4 OVERPASS (7) – Bjorn Baker
Bjorn Baker’s resuming seven-year-old OVERPASS (7) has trialled up nicely winning back-to-back Sydney jump outs ahead of his return and is considered one of the most likely at an upset.
The front-running speedster is expected to be up trying to lead alongside Mazu and he looks a touch overs for mine making him a good exotics value play fresh.
Josh Parr continues associations with the always honest Soft track specialist who just keeps delivering.
Last time in he was fourth in The Everest at 50/1 only 1.5 lengths off the visiting champion before he headed to Perth where he was only just denied a third straight Winterbottom victory.
Races for the first time since another close placing, a half-length off Rey Magnerio in the Group 3 The Gold Rush.
Back on the eastern side of the nation now and he isn’t one I’m going to overlook.
Think he’s still got some good elite level runs in him.
| 4. Overpass (7) J: Josh Parr 58.5kg x423x T: Bjorn Baker |
No. 5 MAZU (9) – Joesph Pride
MAZU (9) lines up for one of the country’s best trainers of sprinters, Joe Pride, and he’ll be up on pace trying to go all-the-way.
He’s at a big price to do so as it’s been a long time between drinks with the Maurice gelding’s last win being nearly a year ago now when taking out the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes here last April.
His spring form was pretty good including his third to Jimmysstar in the Russell Balding after he ran ninth at 100/1 in The Everest.
Third-up and fit for the autumn now, he comes off back-to-back thirds when beaten under a half-length combined.
Caught the eye fresh in the Challenge Stakes behind Generosity when just nabbed late before his The Galaxy third beaten a neck in his TJ lead-up run when gunned down the closing stages.
Fitter now and he might just hang on for a podium finish at a huge price.
| 5. Mazu (9) J: Rachel King 58.5kg 93×33 T: Joseph Pride |
No. 6 JOLIESTAR (5) – Chris Waller
JOLIESTAR (5) is in flying form for Waller and could prove the value in this year’s TJ Smith field.
Waller collected three straight TJ Smith trophies with his triple hero Nature Strip (2020-22) and is out to add to his tally this weekend saddling-up his in-form five-year-old daughter of Zoustar from gate five.
Joliestar chases a hat-trick on Saturday having won the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) – both run at Randwick – first and second-up this time in.
She’s firing on all cylinders now and drops back to the six furlongs again which she boasts a terrific record over (11:5-0-3).
James McDonald can do little wrong and partners this livewire chance in another tick.
If they go hard out in front she’s going to be in the right spot to stalk and steal the show.
| 6. Joliestar (5) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 53×11 T: Chris Waller |
No. 7 TENTYRIS (1) – Anthony & Sam Freedman
TENTYRIS (1) heads the market for the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes, with the star three‑year‑old Street Boss colt looking to add a Sydney Group 1 to his résumé after a Coolmore Stud Stakes / Black Caviar Lightning double further south and a luckless Newmarket fifth at his latest only 1.5 lengths beaten by the upset winner Caballus.
Drawn the rails with Mark Zahra sticking, he’s out to become the first three‑year‑old since Trapeze Artist in 2018 to win the race, and while it’s his first run outside Melbourne, the Freedman camp knows how to strike in this event, having teamed with Zahra to win it in 2019.
He had a Randwick trial on March 27 to give him a go the other way of going, and while he only ran a fair sixth to Overpass in the 1050m hit out, it has given him a chance to shake off the nerves on his other leg.
Drawn to get the run of the race from the inside alley, he’s got the ability and strong 1200m strike rate (5:3-1-0) on his side.
If he handles Randwick and the Sydney way of going, he’s the one to beat.
| 7. Tentyris (1) J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg 11×15 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
No. 8 MAGIC TIME (3) – Grahame Begg
MAGIC TIME (3) is one of the longer priced runners and Begg’s six-year-old daughter of Hellbent would need to produce a career best to match it with these sprinters.
Dead last in The Everest in her latest Sydney run, she’s one that’s often better on her Melbourne leg so that’s a query here again.
Was second to Giga Kick beating home Joliestar in the VRC Sprint last November when relishing the Heavy (9) conditions at HQ.
Resumed in the William Reid running ninth to Jigsaw at Caulfield and heads up to Sydney second-up looking to improve.
Michael Dee follows and retains the ride from barrier three and sure, she’s capable of a better run, but probably not good enough to present as a threat.
| 8. Magic Time (3) J: Michael Dee 56.5kg 302×9 T: Grahame Begg |
No. 9 SKYBIRD (4) – Mitchell Freedman
SKYBIRD (4) is the rank outsider in TJ Smith betting at 40/1 at time of publish for trainer Mitch Freedman.
Johnny Allen comes back aboard the lightly raced Exosphere mare who has just her 16th start on the weekend despite being a rising six-year-old.
She’s a Group 1 winner having secured last year’s Black Caviar Lightning at a blowout price but has done little since to suggest she’ll be able to run many if any of these down.
Kicked off in the Challenge Stakes running fifth only two lengths beaten over the 1000m.
Will enjoy 1200m now with winning form up to a mile on her CV but prefer plenty of others.
| 9. Skybird (4) J: John Allen 56.5kg x69x5 T: Mitchell Freedman |
Happy punting!