The TJ Smith

Winners and Past Results.

Half a million dollars is at stake in the Group 1 TJ Smith, a prestigious mile race for two year old horses held at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane during the winter racing carnival in June. Bonus $250 Bet That Can't Lose

Hosted by Brisbane Racing Club, the event is held in honour of the late Tommy Smith, one of Sydney 's legendary trainers. It is the final group race of the season for 2 year old gallopers. Other major races held on the day are the Group 1 Queensland Derby and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

Top two year olds may tackle a number of events leading up to the TJ Smith. This includes the Group 3 Champagne Classic held over 1200 metres of the Doomben Racecourse earlier in May. The 1400 M BRC Sires Produce Stakes also held at Eagle Farm a fortnight earlier is also one of the best lead up races to follow closely. The most recent to win the treble was Pressday who won the Champagne Classic, Sires Produce Stakes, and followed it up with an impressive win in the TJ Smith Stakes in 2010. Many horses have obliged their connections with a Sires Produce Stakes/TJ Smith Stakes double. This includes Slight Chance in 1992 followed by Mahogany the next year. Anthems made it in 1996 while Al Mansour scored the double in 1997. Lovely Jubly was next to win both events in 2002 before Pressday in 2010. Benefica was unplaced in the Sires produce before winning the 2011 The TJ Smith.

Many two year olds that have tackled The TJ Smith have moved on to greater success during their career. Zeditave in 1988, Show A Heart in 2000 and Darci Bramha in 2005 are among the notable milers while Karunda, Le Strom, and Femme Fatale are a few of the earlier winners. Although Shoot Out was unplaced in 2009, the gelding won the Group 1 AJC Derby in autumn.

The first event was held in 1893, which was a principal race known as the Claret Stakes. It was elevated to Group 2 in 1980 while Tristram's Edition was recorded as the first winner as a Group 1 event in 1985. It has also been held as the Castlemaine Stakes and Castlemaine QTC Classic.

2011 The TJ Smith

Benfica enjoyed a lovely ride in the early stages settling on the rails just in behind pre-race favourite Hot Snitzel. When Hot Snitzel moved off the fence in the straight, Benfica took the gap and powered away for an impressive win. Hot Snitzel held on for second, comfortably clear of Playtime.

2011 The TJ Smith result

1. Benfica
2. Hot Snitzel
3. Playtime

Then came:

4. Dowager Queen
5. Immovable Site
6. Black Banner
7. Black Jag
8. Largo Da Barra
9. Double Impact
10. Military Grace
11. Fontelina