About the race
The T J Smith Stakes, sponsored by Asahi Super Dry, is a Group 1 sprint over 1200 metres on turf at Royal Randwick, Sydney, run by the Australian Turf Club on Day 1 of The Championships in April. It is a standard weight-for-age race with no age restriction, apprentices cannot claim, and prize money was A$3,000,000 in 2025 and 2026. The ATC’s race history lists winners from 1997, including Black Caviar in 2013 and Nature Strip from 2020 to 2022.
Briasa won the 2025 running on 5 April by a head from Overpass, ridden by Tyler Schiller for trainers Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes. The IFHA rated it 117.25, joint 60th among the world’s top 100 Group 1 races of 2025. Joliestar won on 4 April 2026 under James McDonald for Chris Waller, and the ATC lists 3 April 2027 for the next running.
The 2025 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 April 2025 | Briasa | Tyler Schiller | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | n/v |
From the official result.
The 2026 running
| Date | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 April 2026 | Joliestar | James McDonald | Chris Waller | n/v |
From the official result.
Recognition and facts
- Race day
- The Championships Day 1, Royal Randwick
- Winner's prize (2026)
- A$1,725,000
- 2026 winner
- Joliestar (James McDonald, Chris Waller)
- IFHA 2025 ranking
- Joint 60th, rating 117.25
Questions readers ask
When is the T J Smith Stakes run?
On Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick in April. The ATC lists 3 April 2027 for the next running.
What is the prize fund of the T J Smith Stakes?
A$3,000,000 in 2026, with A$1,725,000 to the winner.
Who won the T J Smith Stakes in 2025?
Briasa, ridden by Tyler Schiller and trained by Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes, on 5 April 2025.
Sources
The rank and rating are from the IFHA's LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025, published 21 January 2026, which ranks races by the ratings of their first four finishers. Other facts are from the pages listed below.
- IFHA: LONGINES World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races 2025 (published 21 January 2026)
- Australian Turf Club: T J Smith Stakes race history
- Australian Turf Club: The Star Championships Day 1 results, 5 April 2025
- Australian Turf Club: The Championships Day 1 results, 4 April 2026
- Racing NSW: Royal Randwick results, 4 April 2026
- Australian Turf Club: Feature races