2026 TJ Smith Stakes Runner-by-Runner Preview & Tips

The Championships take centre stage at Royal Randwick this Saturday, and we’ve broken down the full TJ Smith Stakes field with a complete runner‑by‑runner preview for punters.

It’s one of four Group 1 features on a massive day in Sydney, and the $3 million sprint has again drawn a top‑class line‑up of short‑course specialists.

Dual Group 1 winner Tentyris heads the market from the inside draw as he looks to claim his first Sydney victory, but the Melbourne colt won’t have it easy against proven performers such as the ever‑reliable Jimmysstar and Chris Waller’s in‑form mare Joliestar.

With past champions including three-time heroes Chautauqua and Nature Strip, the TJ Smith has long been a showcase for elite speed, and 2026 is no exception.

Dive into our complete 2026 TJ Smith Stakes preview and tips below to see how each runner stacks up.

No. 1 JIMMYSSTAR (2) – Ciaron Maher

JIMMYSTAR (2) sits on the second line of betting for the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes and looks well‑placed from barrier two, the tough and consistent Per Incanto six‑year‑old returning to Randwick where he’s produced some of his best work.

A dual Group 1 winner last spring with victories in the Russell Balding and CF Orr, he showed his versatility across tracks and distances before resuming as favourite in the William Reid, where he was below his best but will strip much fitter second‑up (5:2‑2‑1).

With Mark Zahra committed to Tentyris, Ethan Brown reunites with one of his key mounts, and the pair have already combined for major success.

Jimmysstar’s Randwick credentials are undeniable—third in last year’s Everest behind Ka Ying Rising and the reigning All Aged Stakes winner over Joliestar—and he wasn’t far away when fourth in the 2025 TJ Smith.

Seasoned, adaptable and battle‑hardened, he shapes as the main danger to the younger brigade and won’t be conceding anything without a scrap.

No. 2 BRIASA (8) – Michael, Wayne & Jonn Hawkes

BRIASA (8) returns to defend his TJ Smith crown, and the Hawkes‑trained grey shapes as a genuine threat to go back‑to‑back in one of Randwick’s great 1200m tests.

The Smart Missile five‑year‑old was excellent fresh in The Galaxy, finishing a tight fourth in a blanket finish, and he profiles perfectly second‑up with three wins from four attempts.

A pure six‑furlong specialist with six victories from eight starts at the trip, he now gets back to his preferred distance and should take natural improvement from his Rosehill run.

Tyler Schiller sticks from barrier eight, giving the gelding tactical flexibility, and early market support suggests punters haven’t missed him.

With his proven class at the level and a record that stacks up strongly against this field, Briasa looks a live Top‑4 contender as he chases another TJ Smith title.

No. 3 GIGA KICK (6) – Clayton Douglas

GIGA KICK (6) returns as a genuine winning chance in the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes, the former Everest hero building nicely into his campaign and sitting among the key single‑figure hopes.

Third‑up on Saturday, the Scissor Kick six‑year‑old looks ready to peak after finishing fifth behind Tentyris in the Black Caviar Lightning and then producing a solid fourth in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick, beaten just 1.4 lengths.

With nearly $15 million in the bank and a proven ability to handle all track conditions, a Soft surface only enhances his prospects, and his record at both Randwick and the 1200m speaks for itself.

He meets this field fitter, maps to get his chance from midfield, and with plenty falling into place at the right time, Giga Kick shapes as a late‑charging threat who can absolutely make his presence felt.

No. 4 OVERPASS (7) – Bjorn Baker

OVERPASS (7) resumes as one of the more intriguing upset hopes in the TJ Smith this year, the Bjorn Baker‑trained seven‑year‑old returning off two sharp Sydney trial wins that suggest he’s come back in terrific order.

A natural on‑pace runner, he’s expected to roll forward with Mazu and give plenty of cheek, and at his current quote he shapes as strong exotics value fresh.

Josh Parr sticks with the proven Soft‑track performer, who rarely turns in a poor run and continues to deliver at the top level.

Last prep he was outstanding—fourth in The Everest at big odds before heading west and going agonisingly close to a third straight Winterbottom, then finishing a narrow second in The Gold Rush.

Back racing on the eastern seaboard and still showing he has elite‑grade performances in him, Overpass is not one to overlook and looks capable of giving this field a real shake.

No. 5 MAZU (9) – Joesph Pride

MAZU (9) steps out for master sprinter‑trainer Joe Pride and looks set to play his usual role on the speed, attempting to pinch the TJ Smith from the front at big odds.

It’s been nearly a year since his last win—the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick—but his form this prep has been far stronger than the market suggests, finishing third in both the Challenge Stakes and The Galaxy by a combined margin of less than half a length.

His spring efforts were solid too, including a placing behind Jimmysstar in the Russell Balding after contesting The Everest at triple‑figure odds.

Now third‑up and fully fit, the Maurice gelding has been hitting the line with purpose and gives every indication he’s ready to peak.

If he can absorb early pressure and find a breather mid‑race, Mazu has the toughness to stick on for a podium finish at a very juicy price.

No. 6 JOLIESTAR (5) – Chris Waller

JOLIESTAR (5) brings red‑hot form into the TJ Smith and shapes as one of the real value runners in this year’s field, the Chris Waller‑trained mare chasing a hat‑trick after impressive Randwick wins in the Expressway Stakes and Canterbury Stakes.

Waller knows exactly what it takes to win this race—having claimed three straight editions with Nature Strip—and he saddles a five‑year‑old who is thriving this prep and boasts an excellent 1200m record (11:5‑0‑3).

From gate five, James McDonald sticks with her, and his current form only strengthens her case.

If the leaders pour the pressure on early, Joliestar looks perfectly placed to stalk, pounce and potentially spoil the party at attractive odds.

She’s flying, she’s proven at the track, and she profiles as a genuine value danger.

No. 7 TENTYRIS (1) – Anthony & Sam Freedman

TENTYRIS (1) commands favouritism for the 2026 TJ, the high‑class Street Boss colt looking to extend his Group 1 haul after completing the Coolmore–Lightning double in Melbourne and finishing a luckless fifth in the Newmarket, beaten only 1.5 lengths.

Drawn the rails with Mark Zahra sticking, he aims to become the first three‑year‑old since Trapeze Artist (2018) to win the race, and while this is his first start outside Victoria, the Freedman team has already proven they can strike in this event.

A Randwick trial on March 27 gave him a look at the Sydney way of going, and although only fair behind Overpass, it should bring him on nicely.

With a strong 1200m record (5:3‑1‑0), tactical advantage from barrier one and genuine star quality, Tentyris is clearly the horse they all have to run down if he handles Randwick.

No. 8 MAGIC TIME (3) – Grahame Begg

MAGIC TIME (3) sits among the longer‑priced runners for this year’s TJ Smith, and the Grahame Begg‑trained mare will need to lift to a new career peak to trouble this line‑up.

She was well beaten in The Everest on her last Sydney visit and generally does her best work the Melbourne way of going, which is a genuine query again here.

That said, she did chase home Giga Kick when second in the VRC Sprint last spring on Heavy ground, proving she can mix it with top‑tier sprinters when conditions suit.

Her William Reid return was plain, finishing ninth behind Jigsaw, and she heads north second‑up looking for improvement.

Michael Dee sticks from barrier three, and while she’s capable of producing a sharper run, she still looks a rung below the key chances on exposed form.

A top‑six finish wouldn’t shock, but she’ll need everything to fall her way to feature late.

No. 9 SKYBIRD (4) – Mitchell Freedman

SKYBIRD (4) fronts up as the rank outsider in this year’s TJ Smith field, with the Mitch Freedman‑trained mare sitting at long odds and needing a clear career peak to come anything but dead last.

Johnny Allen reunites with the lightly raced Exosphere rising six‑year‑old, who despite having just her 16th start is already a Group 1 winner thanks to her shock Black Caviar Lightning boilover last season.

Since then, she’s struggled to recapture that spark, though her fifth in the Challenge Stakes first‑up—beaten only two lengths—was sound enough.

The rise to 1200m suits given she’s won up to a mile, but against this calibre of sprinter she still looks up against it.

A handy run wouldn’t shock, yet she remains one of the easier runners to oppose.

Good luck punters!