The Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes is the premier sprint race held during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. It is run over 1200m at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Day 1 of The Championships. The Doncaster Mile, Australian Derby and Inglis Sires’ also feature on the opening day of The Championships.
Carrying $2.5 million in prize money as of 2019, the TJ Smith Stakes is a weight-for-age sprint race that awards the winner with $1.45 million. The race pays down to 10th place with $17,500 earned for running ninth and 10th; a capacity field of 18 horses can compete in the race and another four emergencies can be named if there are more than 18 runners.
A relatively new race compared to most Group 1 features, the TJ Smith Stakes was first run in 1997 when captured by star thoroughbred Mahogany. It was a Listed race that year and was known as The Endeavour Stakes. In 1998, the race was upgraded to Group 3 status and in 1999, the race name would be changed to the TJ Smith Stakes to honour the late Tommy Smith who passed away in 1998. Smith would capture 33 consecutive Sydney trainers’ premierships during his career.
Another upgrade came in 2002 when Phoenix Park was a surprise winner at $61. The race had just been given Group 2 status and was taken out by Smith’s daughter, Gai Waterhouse.
As of 2005, the TJ Smith Stakes has held Group 1 status with Waterhouse saddling up the winner, Shamekha, who defeated both Fastnet Rock and Alinghi.
One of the greatest racehorses of all time is on the winner’s honour roll. The Peter Moody-trained Black Caviar would capture the 2011 TJ Smith Stakes by 2.8 lengths over Hay List at odds of $1.14. She would once again capture the race in 2013, by defeating Epaulette by 3 lengths at odds of $1.14 also. It would be the champion mare’s 25th and final start in a career that saw her unbeaten and the winner of 15 Group 1 races.
Eight-time Group 1 winner Apache Cat won the TJ Smith Stakes in 2008 by defeating six rivals at $2.25. Reigning To Win ran second, beaten 2.8 lengths, while Takeover Target was close-up in third place. Takeover Target would turn the tables in 2009 with a 2.8-length victory over Northern Meteor. Apache Cat ran third in the small field of six horses.
The 2014 edition would go the way of Lankan Rupee who beat 14 rivals on a Heavy 9 track.
The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Chautauqua created history with his 2017 victory. The flashy grey-bay gelding made it a hattrick of wins in the race after saluting in 2015 and 2016, making him the first horse to ever win the TJ Smith Stakes three times. Relive his unbelievable 2017 victory below!
