TJ Smith Stakes 2026 - Barrier Draw & Final Field

Bets.com.au Staff

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Last updated: Tue 31 Mar 2026 10:43

Bets.com.au Staff 31 Mar 2026

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The 2026 TJ Smith Stakes features nine Group 1 winning sprinters, battling for a $3 million prize at Royal Randwick
Key contenders include Tentryis seeking redemption and Briasa defending her title with proven winning form
Other notable entries are Giga Kick with promising distance prospects and Joliestar in stellar form, although wet conditions remain a concern

Briasa defeating Overpass in the 2025 TJ Smith Stakes. (Getty)

Tentryis (barrier 1) was unsuited last time out in the Newmarket Handicap, settling back on a day that favoured those closer to the speed.

TJ Smith Stakes 2026 - Barriers & Final Field
TJ Smith Stakes Winners

Prior to that, the Godolphin colt had stamped himself as one of the most promising sprinters in Australia with a winning hat-trick, including two Group 1 victories down the Flemington straight, highlighted by a Coolmore Stud Stakes win over 1200m to close his spring.

His 2026 resumption in the Black Caviar Lightning saw him produce an impressive closing effort from the back, and he has since tuned up for his Sydney return with a Randwick trial on March 27.

Jimmysstar (barrier 2) was disappointing on return in the William Reid Stakes as a beaten favourite, although his 2025 campaign was highly consistent with three Group 1 victories, including an All-Aged Stakes success at Randwick.

Joliestar (barrier 5) is the most in-form galloper heading into the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes, with two wins to open her campaign, the latest a Group 1 Canterbury Stakes victory on March 8, and she has since completed a Rosehill trial, although wet ground is a query.

Giga Kick (barrier 6) returned to winning form last spring with two victories from as many starts, including a heavy-track win in the Champions Sprint at Flemington, and after two 1000m runs this prep, the rise to 1200m looks suitable, with Zac Purton booked for the ride.

Briasa (barrier 8) is the defending champion after winning this race last year and comes into this year’s edition off the same platform via The Galaxy, and has also won his last two second-up attempts.

With four wins and four seconds from 10 first-up attempts, Overpass (barrier 7) brings strong fresh credentials and has won two March trials leading into this return, while Mazu (barrier 9), Skybird (barrier 4) and Magic Time (barrier 3) round out a field where all nine runners are Group 1 winners.

TJ Smith Stakes 2026 - Barriers & Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Odds
1	Jimmysstar (NZ)	Ciaron Maher	Ethan Brown	2	58.5kg	$4.40
2	Briasa	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes	Tyler Schiller	8	58.5kg	$9
3	Giga Kick	Clayton Douglas	Zac Purton	6	58.5kg	$9
4	Overpass	Bjorn Baker	Joshua Parr	7	58.5kg	$15
5	Mazu	Joseph Pride	Rachel King	9	58.5kg	$41
6	Joliestar	Chris Waller	James McDonald	5	56.5kg	$4
7	Tentyris	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Mark Zahra	1	56.5kg	$3
8	Magic Time	Grahame Begg	Michael Dee	3	56.5kg	$34
9	Skybird	Mitchell Freedman	John Allen	4	56.5kg	$51

Odds courtesy of Unibet Australia & correct on 31/03/2026.

TJ Smith Stakes Winners

First run in 1997 and won by Mahogany, the TJ Smith Stakes has since been captured by some of the finest sprinters in Australian racing history, including Chautauqua, Black Caviar, Nature Strip and the unforgettable Takeover Target.

The race was elevated to Group 1 status in 2005 and is now worth $3 million, with the 1200m feature forming one of four elite-level contests on the opening day of The Championships at Royal Randwick.

Held two weeks after The Galaxy, the TJ Smith Stakes is widely regarded as the headline sprint of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

I Wish I Win (2023), Chain Of Lightning (2024) and Briasa (2025) have taken out the past three editions of the TJ Smith Stakes.