It is youth vs experience in the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick this weekend in Sydney with three-year-old Giga Kick taking on evergreen eight-year-old Nature Strip in the sprint showdown.

Reigning The Everest champ Giga Kick chases another 1200m feature race success at Randwick in the 2023 TJ Smith Stakes on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Giga Kick had the Chris Waller-trained champion’s measure in the $15 million The Everest (1200m) at the track and trip last October winning the world’s richest handicap with Nature Strip running fourth in his unsuccessful title defence.

The tables were turned at headquarters next run when Giga Kick placed fifth with Nature Strip second in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m).

On Saturday they meet again with the Clayton Douglas-trained Scissor Kick gelding Giga Kick leading the latest TJ Smith Stakes betting markets at $3.70 through Ladbrokes to become the first three-year-old winner since Trapeze Artist (2018).

His lead-up had him running a length back third behind Passive Aggressive at the track fresh on March 4 in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) with improvement expected over the six furlongs in the Group 1.

Waller’s $20.6 million earner Nature Strip meanwhile is at current TJ Smith Stakes odds of $4.80 to win an unprecedented fourth straight edition of the event.

He tied with the ‘Grey Flash’ Chautauqua with his third last year and is now looking to go out on his own as a four-time champion.

Nature Strip jumps from a mid-field gate seven draw with James McDonald continuing associations.

The three-time defending champion comes off a lead-up sixth when 2.3 lengths off the filly Coolangatta in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 18.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings chases his maiden TJ Smith Stakes win in 2023 and saddles-up two chances with his last start Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winning filly In Secret ($6) and 50/1 outsider Paulele drawn barriers 12 and three respectively.

Ultra-consistent I Am Invincible filly In Secret hit the big time winning the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight by two lengths last spring on the back of her second to Jacquinot in Sydney’s Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).

She has been equally as impressive this prep winning the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) fresh.

A close third when beaten a nose on the line in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) followed before she went back to Melbourne and beat home the older sprinters back down the famous ‘Straight Six’ in the Newmarket carrying 51.5kg.

This weekend she is back in Sydney a dual Group 1 winner with Ben Melham to ride on 54.5kg.

Paulele meanwhile is being left alone by the punters despite the four-year-old Dawn Approach entire boasting a strong strike-rate at the track (8:5-0-2).

Winer of Perth’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) last November he was flat fresh here in the Challenge Stakes when eighth.

Grahame Begg’s Challenge Stakes winning mare Passive Aggressive also backs-up in the TJ Smith Stakes field this weekend.

Nature Strip (2020) was the last horse to do the Challenge Stakes – TJ Smith Stakes double, and Passive Aggressive in barrier six pays $15 to be the next.

Shorter in the markets are the Joe Pride-trained The Everest runner-up Private Eye ($7) coming off a Newmarket fourth and Peter Moody’s Golden Eagle champ I Wish I Win ($9) drawn barriers two and 14 respectively.

I Wish I Win is also out to frank the Melbourne form heading north on the weekend on the back of placings in the Black Caviar Lightning (2^nd) and Newmarket Handicap (3^rd) only beaten by a combined margin of 1.5 lengths.

See below for the official TJ Smith Stakes 2023 final field and barriers.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.