TJ Smith Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the TJ Smith Stakes.

Hosted by the Australian Turf Club, the TJ Smith Stakes is a premier Group 1 weight for age sprint race held in April at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. Horses vie for 2.5 million dollars in prize money over a distance of 1200 metres. The race is worth 2.5 million dollars.

Scheduled on the same race card are the Group 1 AJC Australian Derby and AJC Sires Produce Stakes. The race attracts quality sprinters and favours the better performing horses that can take advantage of level weight conditions. The event is held in honour of legendary trainer Tommy Smith, and has become a major sprint race with trainers able to sort out their best sprinters who have the potential to take out major group races during the year.

Horses may come via the 1500 M Group 1 George Ryder Stakes held earlier at Rosehill Racecourse and the 1300 M Group 2 Canterbury Stakes also held at the Rosehill track. The 1200 M Group 1 William Reid Stakes held earlier at Moonee Valley Racecourse may also have a few horses making an entry in the TJ Smith Stakes. Black Caviar won the event on her way to scoring another blistering victory in the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes.

Horses may then go on and compete in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes over 1400 metres at the same track. The race is held on the final day of the Randwick carnival.

The first TJ Smith Stakes was a listed race held in 1997. It was elevated to Group 3 the very next year. The race soon began to attract the classy field, which led to it being promoted once again to Group 2 in 2002 and to Group 1 in 2005. Some of the top gallopers to win the TJ Smith include Bentley Biscuit, Apache Cat, Takeover Target, and Melito between 2007 and 2010, before Black Caviar stormed the tracks in 2011. The race is held in honour of legendary trainer TJ Smith. Punters ought to follow horses competing in the TJ Smith Stakes closely for the rest of the season.