Three-Year-Olds Headline TJ Smith Stakes First Acceptances

The Autumn Carnival’s headline sprint is set to feature a particularly talented field this year following the release of forty-eight 2017 TJ Smith Stakes first acceptances this afternoon.

Flying Artie has been included in 2017 TJ Smith Stakes first acceptances. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Flying Artie has been included in 2017 TJ Smith Stakes first acceptances. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

A battle of the three-year-olds appears likely after all of Flying Artie, Extreme Choice, Astern and Star Turn were confirmed in 2017 TJ Smith Stakes first acceptances.

Flying Artie has been a strong and consistent performer for Mick Price throughout his entire racing career, but undoubtedly went to another level when he returned as a three-year-old last spring.

Having resumed for a comfortable win in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m), the Artie Schiller colt stormed home to win the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day.

Flying Artie resumed this time for seventh in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) and was ruled out of Saturday’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) with a minor lung ailment.

Stable mate Extreme Choice broke through for a maiden win at the highest level in the 2016 edition of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), but was another horse who clearly returned for furnished as a three-year-old when he beat an open field in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) first-up in spring.

Astern showed plenty of ability from the time he debuted for a commanding win at Randwick on debut in late 2015 and capped an impressive two-year-old campaign with a dead-heat win alongside El Divino in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), during The Championships.

Beating a smart field to the line in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) first-up in spring, the son of Medaglia D’Oro posted his maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).

Running second in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m), Astern was last seen working to the line for second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Star Turn won both of the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) and Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) most notably in spring and ended the year third in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Having resumed for third in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, the Star Witness colt appears as though he will be perfectly suited to the conditions of the TJ Smith Stakes.

A number of standout open-age horses have also been confirmed in 2017 TJ Smith Stakes first acceptances, included Fell Swoop and Spieth.

Fell Swoop has been placed at the highest level several times through a consistent autumn carnival campaign in 2016, including a smart second to Chautauqua in the most recent edition of the TJ Smith Stakes.

Having continued to impressive through spring, the son of Not A Single Doubt finished second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and ended his year a close third in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m).

Spieth announced himself to the greater Australian racing community when he finished an agonizingly-close second in the Darley Classic in November and resumed this time for second to fellow TJ Smith Stakes first acceptance Terravista in the Lightning Stakes.

Astern and Spieth currently share the top line of early 2017 TJ Smith Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes, at $6 quotes.

2017 TJ Smith Stakes First Acceptances

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 x101x1122x ASTERN C 3 John O’Shea 107
2 1311x47x32 CHAUTAUQUA G 6 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 119
3 217x2602x8 COUNTERATTACK H 4 Chris Waller 100
4 2x600x2117 DAL CIELO (NZ) G 4 Kris Lees 93
5 118x359x47 DANISH TWIST M 5 Kris Lees 104
6 6x12037x43 DERRYN C 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
7 525x456x44 DOTHRAKI G 6 Peter & Paul Snowden 105
8 631x5470x1 ENGLISH M 4 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 110
9 1118x15x3 EXTREME CHOICE C 3 Mick Price
10 5x16225x72 FAATINAH G 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
11 4623036×79 FAST ’N’ ROCKING G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
12 5x447317x4 FELINES M 5 Kris Lees 101
13 2156x323x6 FELL SWOOP G 5 Matthew Dale
14 1x FERRANDO (NZ) C 3 Graeme Rogerson
15 100x98x440 FLAMBERGE G 7 Darren Weir
16 2x123x11x7 FLYING ARTIE C 3 Mick Price
17 1×22 GLENALL C 3 Les Bridge 75
18 6x1x14x320 GUARD OF HONOUR C 3 Kris Lees 79
19 x10113x344 HELLBENT H 4 Darren Weir
20 121x1212x5 ILLUSTRIOUS LAD G 5 Peter Gelagotis
21 13x3314x64 IMPENDING C 3 John O’Shea 97
22 313x6039x6 JAPONISME G 4 Chris Waller 108
23 x10x3021x8 KAEPERNICK G 5 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 105
24 60x221712x KURO (NZ) G 5 Joseph Pride 106
25 7x22251x11 LE ROMAIN G 4 Kris Lees 113
26 619x215x16 MALAGUERRA G 5 Peter Gelagotis
27 L0x55402x5 MISS PROMISCUITY M 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
28 x1x66735x1 MISSROCK F 3 Robbie Laing 81
29 11x1210x15 MUSIC MAGNATE (NZ) G 5 Bjorn Baker 111
30 431160x19x PALAZZO PUBBLICO M 5 Matthew Smith 98
31 11110x100x PETITS FILOUS M 4 Ciaron Maher
32 94x236710x REBEL DANE H 7 Gary Portelli
33 5120x5x21x REDKIRK WARRIOR (GB) G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 99
34 3x3221123x ROCK MAGIC G 7 Chris Gangemi
35 11114x RUSSIAN REVOLUTION C 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 97
36 27024x167x SECRET AGENDA M 4 Mick Price
37 7x421152x1 SHEIDEL M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
38 x0111x12x2 SPIETH (NZ) H 4 Bryce Heys
39 256x1213x3 STAR TURN C 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
40 x11x113x93 SUPIDO H 5 Michael Kent 101
41 42x256Px1x TARGET IN SIGHT G 7 Joseph Pride
42 3x1442x0x TELPERION C 3 John O’Shea 87
43 3x296x20x1 TERRAVISTA G 7 Joseph Pride 113
44 61539x146x THE QUARTERBACK G 6 Robbie Griffiths
45 1x26330x1x TIVACI H 4 Michael Moroney 102
46 600x11412x TYCOON TARA M 6 Peter & Paul Snowden
47 212311210x VOODOO LAD G 5 Darren Weir 104
48 21438×1013 ZESTFUL M 5 Kris Lees 97

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.