TJ Smith Stakes Tips - Tentyris set to bounce back third-up in Randwick sprint war

The exciting three-year-old was a breathtaking winner in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington when resuming, when he put older horses away like a genuine world-class sprinter. 

But the Godolphin galloper comes off a bit of an inconclusive performance in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) when back on a slow tempo and out on the inferior going with the big weight, placing 5th behind Caballus. 

Back to weight-for-age and third-up, this looks the perfect setup for him to rebound. His career peak came at this stage last spring when he exploded to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes, running 13.5 lengths faster than standard. 

Formlines are varied leading into this race with other key contenders coming out of the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, the Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick and the Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill, while another key chance, Joliestar, drops slightly in trip after claiming the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at her most recent start. 

The mare from the Waller camp is chasing a hat-trick after winning the Expressway Stakes (1200m) when resuming and draws ideally in barrier 5, where James McDonald can land one-out one-back or slot in just behind the speed. 

As a five-year-old she is racing with a new level of maturity and consistency, and Chris Waller has her absolutely humming ahead of a planned UK campaign.

Giga Kick is the forgotten star and looks primed to peak third-up. His Challenge Stakes run screamed TJ Smith, savaging the line late with the fastest final 200m split of the race in 10.72. 

He matched Jimmysstar for the best last-start benchmark figure in the field at 10.8 lengths faster than standard, and the rise to 1200m is exactly what he wants. Barrier six gives Zac Purton options to land in the second-last pair with cover before launching.

Jimmysstar was disappointing in the William Reid but that was a complete setup run from the inside where nothing went right. He gets another low draw, which again means luck in running will be crucial, but his raw figures keep him firmly in the race.

The defending champion Briasa returns and remains dangerous. The Team Hawkes galloper carted weight when resuming in the Galaxy to place 4th and gets back to weight-for-age, while his second-up TJ Smith profile from last year is impossible to ignore.

Overpass is the old warrior who is always a genuine threat fresh. He was narrowly beaten in this race last year first-up and maps beautifully again from barrier 7 to either sit outside the speed or take the lead if Mazu rolls across too hard.

The speed looks genuine with Mazu and Overpass drawn to roll forward and ensure the tempo is strong from the outset.

Briasa from barrier 8 has the tricky map horse profile. He can either push across and sit outside the speed or be dragged back depending on how aggressively they want to use him.

Joliestar gets the dream map from gate 5, likely landing just behind the leaders in the one-one or stalking line. Giga Kick from 6 should slide in behind her with clear air.

Tentyris from barrier a and Jimmysstar from barrier 2 both need the gaps at the right time, but the Randwick 1200m gives them enough time to sort themselves out before the bend. If the speed is strong, both will be charging late.

Magic Time maps for the soft run midfield on the fence and becomes more dangerous the wetter the track gets.

Tentyris

Forgive the Newmarket completely. Back to weight-for-age and third-up, this is the perfect bounce-back profile. His Lightning win showed genuine superstar talent and his best benchmark figures stack up with anything in the race, while it is important to note that he did not look out of place at all in Sydney, conquering the Todman Stakes (1200m) at the track and trip as a two-year-old before missing the Golden Slipper (1200m) last year. If Zahra sees daylight at the right time, he is the one to beat.

Giga Kick

Back to 1200m and his Challenge Stakes run was exactly what you wanted to see. The late splits were explosive, he matched the best benchmark figure in the race and barrier six gives Zac Purton complete flexibility. The former Everest (1200m) winner has had three career starts when third up for two wins and a runner-up in the 2024 Everest. If the rain arrives, his Randwick 1200m Everest and TJ Smith form makes him enormously dangerous at the quote.