The best sprint race Sydney has to offer for the Autumn is the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this Saturday and history goes on the line with Nature Strip looking to make it three years in a row he has greeted the judge first.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2022 TJ Smith Stakes.
Market 💰: View the Odds for the TJ Smith Stakes
2022 TJ Smith Stakes Speed Map
Looks pretty obvious here. Eduardo leads, rolls, and Nature Strip sits outside him. The query will be how hard do they go. If Eduardo runs hard like he did in the Challenge, it could bring both of them unstuck. Rule Of Law won’t be far away, likewise stablemate Overpass.
2022 TJ Smith Stakes Runner Preview
1. Nature Strip: Nature Strip is the best Grant Final horse in the race and is on top, but do I want to take $2.50/thereabouts? No way. I’d want $3-$3.50 before diving into. He should have won the Lightning first up before being quite plain I thought in the Challenge. He’s a proven big time performer, he’ll be on speed and hard to beat. But I’d want a better price.
2. Eduardo: Eduardo is a beauty for Joe Pride. Brilliant ride from Nash saw him win the Challenge. He rolled and made Nature Strip chase, which brought him undone and in the end nearly beat Eduardo undone given Shelby Sixtysix nearly won. Tick over trial was good, he has conditions to suit, will be on speed and giving his all.
3. Masked Crusader: Masked Crusader is third up from a break here and should just about be at peak fitness. Just found them a bit sharp fresh in the Lightning before going to the Newmarket and was okay late without threatening. He ran so well in this race last year and I suspect he’ll do something similar.
4. Zoutori: Just a run in the Newmarket. He isn’t going as well as he has in the pass, he hates wet tracks…I actually think $101 is unders for him. Should be double that.
5. Count De Rupee: Is Robbie Laing training this horse? Talk about awful placement. Resumed in a Newmarket and is now contesting a hot sprint race. IMO, he would be an ideal Stradbroke horse so not sure why they are running here. He’s a handicap horse.
6. Shelby Sixtysix: What a rise in the ranks it has been for Shelby Sixtysix, from a horse battling to win to winning a Highway, to winning a Stakes race, and now comes into the high class sprint race as a last start Group l winner and a leading chance. That Group l win came in the Galaxy where he was given a peach by Robbie Dolan to just get the win. He swims, he nearly beat Eduardo in the Challenge, beating Nature Strip in that race…I just think he has to be the each way bet.
7. Rule Of Law: He has done an outstanding job this time in but was found out in the Galaxy so can’t entertain him here as a threat in any way.
8. Roch N Horse: Pat Moloney got the move to stay inside spot on in the Newmarket and got the win. But, it was brutally run and they walked home. Similar set up here on the cards, but the depth is far greater IMO.
9. Overpass: He should have been right in the finish in the Galaxy but had no luck in the straight when wanting clear air. He gets an ideal map here, hard fit and in form…just not sure about the class and whether he can handle it.
10. Belluci Babe: Ran a super race in the Galaxy but just don’t think she’s quite up to this lot. Can’t back her to win but could entertain her as a first four threat.
11. Paulele: Gets such a significant jockey upgrade. Given none in the Galaxy and should have finished much closer. 3/3 at the track distance, he’s a colt wanting a big race win and I think will be around the mark. First four threat.
2022 TJ Smith Stakes $100 Betting Strategy:
The bet here for me is Shelby Sixtysix. $25 Win/$75 Place.
Group l Strategy Outlay: $5170
Group l Strategy Return: $10066.6
