Nature Strip opens as $4.50 favourite in TJ Smith Stakes market

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Nature Strip

The TAB has released pre-nominations markets for the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes and Group 1 Sydney Cup, both of which will be run during The Championships at in April 2022.

The TJ Smith has 34 horses priced between +350 and +5000, while three runners share favouritism in the 43-strong Sydney Cup market.

Nature Strip has opened as a +350 favourite to retain his TJ Smith crown after a dominant Spring Carnival which saw him win The Everest and the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic.

Nature Strip's regular sparring partner is the +600 second favourite, ahead of Classique Legend (+700) and Masked Crusader (+1000).

Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Home Affairs shares the +1200 quote with The Hunter winner Lost And Running, while winner Artorius is rated an +1700 chance alongside boom filly Espiona.

The TJ Smith will be run over 1200m on April 2, which is the first day of The Championships.

On April 9 for Day Two of The Championships, the stayers will line up in the Sydney Cup (3200m) in a bid to join the likes of Makybe Diva, and Kingston Town on the honour roll.

After running second, third and fourth in this year's , the trio of , Spanish Mission and Floating Artist share favouritism at +1000 in what is shaping to be one of the classiest Sydney Cup fields in years.

Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant sits on the second line of betting at +1400, alongside sixth placegetter Grand Promenade, while Delphi, , Tralee Rose, defending Selino and Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu are all rated an +1700 chance at this point in time.

There are 18 horses sitting on the +2500 quote, including the likes of Great House, Persan, , She's Ideel and .

Horses such as Explosive Jack, Master Of Wine and Team Captain are +5000 chance, while Southern France is the +10000 outsider of the field.

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