Chris Waller is in the hunt for his fourth win in Saturday’s Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) with markets on the Day 1 The Championships‘ sprint feature led by the stable’s class mare Joliestar.
Waller enjoyed a TJ Smith three-peat with cult galloper Nature Strip (2020-22) and is back saddling-up another strong contingent in the 2025 edition at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Sitting top of the latest TJ Smith Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au is Waller’s four-year-old daughter of Zoustar, Joliestar at $3.90, who comes off a lead-up win in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the famous Flemington ‘Straight Six’ in Melbourne.
She carted 56kg to victory there and now returns to Sydney looking to add to her top 1200m record (7:4-0-2) at a track she has won two of her previous five starts at.
Lankan Rupee (2014) was the last horse to complete the Newmarket Handicap / TJ Smith Stakes double that Joliestar is well-backed to complete 11 years later.
She jumps from barrier four with Damian Lane, who rode Chain Of Lightning to victory last year, aboard.
Eight fillies and mares have won the TJ Smith over the years including Chain Of Lightning 12 months ago.
The danger occupying the second line of TJ Smith Stakes betting this season is Team Hawkes‘ Smart Missile gelding Briasa at $4.50.
Winner of last November’s The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle, Briasa resumed on Golden Slipper Day in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) running a good fourth behind Private Harry with improvement expected second-up now getting to his pet distance (5:4-0-0).
He was last on the turn in The Galaxy making up good ground in the short-distance feature and is drawn to get a dream run in gate three with Tyler Schiller in the saddle on Saturday.
Over at TJ Smith Stakes odds of $6.50 looks the other most likely with Bjorn Baker‘s first-up specialist ready to resume for the autumn.
He looks well placed to add to his imposing first-up record (8:4-3-0), and the Vancouver six-year-old has won just shy of $10 million in stakes thanks to dual wins in Perth’s The Quokka and the Winterbottom Stakes.
Last seen winning the latter at Ascot in style from a wide alley last November, he’s drawn better here in gate two for regular rider Josh Parr and comes off back-to-back winning trials in Sydney to bring him on fitness wise.
While Randwick isn’t his preferred track (10:1-3-0), he did win the Group 3 Sydney Stakes by a big margin here last October so there’s a chance he can continue to overcome his course hoodoo.
Parr has a great strike rate on this very good sprinter, six-year-olds have dominated the TJ Smith Stakes over the past 20 years, and he ticks plenty of other boxes.
With the Sydney skies clearing, we’re likely to see Soft going, which Over will relish (7:5-1-0).
The bookies are also taking no chances with Sunshine In Paris ($9) out in gate 11 with Chad Schofield in the saddle.
The Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald trained Invader mare enjoyed plenty of success last year culminating with her Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint (1200m) win at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
This prep she got her autumn underway in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) here on March 8 when only 1.36 lengths back fourth behind Royal Patronage.
She comes back to 1200m this weekend (9:5-1-1) and, while she is yet to win second-up, has in the markets.
The other TJ Smith contenders currently under double figures for the win are the rails-drawn Magic Time ($9) and Ciaron Maher‘s airborne Jimmysstar ($9).
Hellbent mare Magic Time won the Group 2 Expressway Stakes at this track and trip fresh in mid-February with 57kg and was brave last time out holding for third off an on-speed run in the Canterbury only a length beaten.
Jimmysstar meanwhile was a first-up Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner before the versatile Per Incanto gelding showed plenty of fight on the tight Moonee Valley circuit for an eye-catching third in the William Reid Stakes.
He heads to Sydney now for the first time and how he goes the opposite way will be key, but he should relish the roomier Randwick course.
The 2025 Asahi Super Dry T J Smith Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 7 at 3:55pm (AEDT) on the 10-race The Championships Day 1 card.
TJ Smith Stakes 2025 Odds & Results
Asahi Super Dry T J Smith Stakes (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
5. Briasa (3) J: Tyler Schiller 58.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
||
|
2nd
1. Over (2) J: Josh Parr 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
3rd
4. Headwall (7) J: Zac Lloyd 58.5kg
T: Matthew Smith |
||
|
4th
2. Jimmysstar (9) J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
5th
10. Kimochi (13) J: Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
T: Gary Portelli |
||
|
6th
8. Magic Time (1) J: Jordan Childs 56.5kg
T: Grahame Begg |
||
|
7th
11. Switzerland (5) J: Ryan Moore 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
8th
6. Sunshine In Paris (11) J: Chad Schofield 56.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
9th
7. Joliestar (4) J: Damian Lane 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
10th
3. Jedibeel (8) J: Craig Williams 58.5kg
T: Brad Widdup |
||
|
11th
9. I Am Me (6) J: Tim Clark 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
12th
12. Traffic Warden (12) J: Blake Shinn 56.5kg
T: James Cummings |
||
|
13th
13. Shezanalister (10) J: Rachel King 56.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
Data retrieved: 27/05/2025 03:20:08 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE BUYING INSTEAD.
For free and confidential call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
