TJ Smith Stakes 2025 Betting Tips - Will Briasa measure up?

Alex Marsh

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Last updated: 02 Apr 2025

Alex Marsh 02 Apr 2025

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The TJ Smith Stakes is a prestigious sprint race in the Sydney Autumn Carnival
Joliestar is the favorite with $3.70 odds, while Briasa presents a promising bet
Briasa, Sunshine In Paris, and Kimochi are key contenders with unique strengths

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Briasa is aiming for a Group 1 breakthrough in the TJ Smith Stakes. (Getty)

The TJ Smith Stakes is one the newest Group 1's in the Sydney Autumn Carnival, but it isn't short on prestige, as it is one of the most sort after sprints in Australia.

2025 TJ Smith Stakes Tips
2025 TJ Smith Stakes Field & Odds

Mahogany, Apache Cat, Takeover Target, Black Caviar, Chautauqua and Nature Strip are among the champions to have won this 1200m major at Royal Randwick.

Joliestar is a $3.70 favourite with Colossalbet to win the 2025 TJ Smith Stakes.

2025 TJ Smith Stakes Tips

2025 TJ Smith Stakes Best Bet - Briasa

While he appears short enough in the market for his first attempt at Group 1 WFA level, that says more about the current Australian sprinting crop than Briasa's chances.

We're lacking standouts at present, with Private Harry and Briasa among the up-and-comers, and this four-year-old couldn't have done anymore in The Galaxy.

He was where you didn't want to be on Golden Slipper Day, with the grey back and wide before making an early move without any rival taking him into the race.

Briasa was enormous under the circumstances and while the TJ Smith Stakes is a bigger challenge, 1200m and a kinder draw are two massive ticks second-up.

2025 TJ Smith Stakes Next Best Bet - Sunshine In Paris

I'm not sure what the opposite of a rain dance is (Reddit says drought nap), but the connections of Sunshine In Paris will be happy with the clear forecast.

She can get through the low end of a soft track, however, the five-year-old isn't as dynamic on testing ground and being kept on the fresh side here is a positive.

Sunshine In Paris contested the Canterbury Stakes first-up, where she was held-up in a leader dominated race before chiming in late (fastest closing sectionals of the race).

Her recent head-to-head record vs Joliestar (fav) reads 2-0 over spring and when everything comes together, she's one of the most capable sprinters in Australia.

2025 TJ Smith Stakes Value Bet - Kimochi

She rounded out her spring with a much-deserved victory in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, where Kimochi beat two subsequent Group 1 winners (Another Wil and Jimmysstar).

The four-year-old is as honest as they come and she's also versatile, with Kimochi able to contest races in the 1000m to 1500m range (a mile just sees her out).

The Gary Portelli-trained mare arrives here off a slashing return in the Challenge Stakes, where she ran the second-fastest last 600m of the March 8 card.

Although she's drawn out, there could be a chance to press forward over this longer trip, as Overpass and I Am Me are the only major speed influences.

2025 TJ Smith Stakes Field & Odds

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Odds
1	Overpass	Bjorn Baker	Joshua Parr	2	58.5kg	$6.30
2	Jimmysstar (NZ)	Ciaron Maher	Ethan Brown	9	58.5kg	$10
3	Jedibeel (NZ)	Brad Widdup	Craig Williams	8	58.5kg	$51
4	Headwall	Matthew Smith	Zac Lloyd	7	58.5kg	$17
5	Briasa	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Tyler Schiller	3	58.5kg	$4.80
6	Sunshine In Paris	Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald	Chad Schofield	11	56.5kg	$9.50
7	Joliestar	Chris Waller	Damian Lane	4	58.5kg	$3.70
8	Magic Time	Grahame Begg	Jordan Childs	1	56.5kg	$9
9	I Am Me	Ciaron Maher	Tim Clark	6	56.5kg	$41
10	Kimochi	Gary Portelli	Nash Rawiller	13	56.5kg	$31
11	Switzerland	Chris Waller	Ryan Moore	5	56.5kg	$17
12	Traffic Warden	James Cummings	Blake Shinn	12	56.5kg	$31
13	Shezanalister	Bjorn Baker	Rachel King	10	56.5kg	$101