The The TJ Smith is a Group 1 race for two-year-olds that is held annually each June at Eagle Farm racecourse in Brisbane, Queensland. The race is run over a distance of 1600 metres and worth $500,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 The TJ Smith was won by Benfica from Hot Snitzel with Playtime third.
The race takes place on Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm's major race meeting of the year and acts as a wonderful support race for the Gr 1 Stradbroke Handicap and Gr1 Queensland Derby.
The TJ Smith is named after legendary Sydney trainer Tommy Smith and the race has grown to become an elite race for two-year-olds during the Brisbane winter carnival. It is the final group race of the carnival for 2yo gallopers and the Gr2 Sires Produce Stakes held one week earlier at the same track is the best guide to this event.
Two-year-olds may also tackle the Gr3 Champagne Classic prior to this race and Pressday (2010) managed to win the 2yo treble when he took out the Champagne Classic, Sires Produce Stakes and The TJ Smith Stakes in succession.
Recent two-year-olds to win the Sires Produce Stakes & The TJ Smith double include Pressday (2010), Lovely Jubly (2002), Juanmo (2001), Al Mansour (1997), Anthems (1996), Mahogany (1993) and Slight Chance (1992).
More often than not, winners of this race will go on to bigger and better things in their career and it's worth noting that Shoot Out (7th in 2009) ran seventh in this race before going on to win the Gr1 AJC Derby the following autumn in Sydney, while Pressday (2010) managed to go on and take out the Gr2 Sandown Guineas the following spring in Melbourne.
Benfica (2011) ran sixth in the Sires Produce Stakes on his way to winning this event and recent The TJ Smith winners include Pressday (2010) and Linky Dink (2009).
2011 The TJ Smith result
1. $4.60 Benfica 56.0 K Mc Evoy
2. $2.20 Hot Snitzel 56.0 J Bowman
3. $10.00 Playtime 54.0 S Seamer
Then followed:
4. $6.00 Dowager Queen 54.0 J Mc Donald
5. $51.00 Immovable Site 54.0 C Brown
6. $201.00 Black Banner 54.0 G Schofield
7. $101.00 Black Jag 56.0 Justin Stanley
8. $51.00 Largo Da Barra 56.0 O Bosson
9. $41.00 Double Impact 56.0 C Munce
10. $101.00 Military Grace 54.0 D Dunn
11. $4.60 Fontelina 56.0 L Nolen
Margins: 1 1/4 len, 3 len Time: 1:36.06
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