Stellenbosch (horse)

Stellenbosch (Japanese: ステレンボッシュ, Foaled February 12, 2021) is an active Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. She won the Oka Sho in 2024.

She was named after Stellenbosch, a town in South Africa.

Before debut
Stellenbosch was born at Northern Farm, located in Abira, Hokkaido. She is currently owned by Shadai Group Owners, for about 5 million yen per share, with Katsumi Yoshida as their representative. She was sent into training with Sakae Kunieda.

2023: two-year-old season
Stellenbosch debuted at the Sapporo Racecourse on July 23, 2023, in a two-year-old newcomer race on turf at the distance of 1,800 meters, ridden by Takeshi Yokoyama. Although she was the second favored horse, she won brilliantly by one and a half horse length. Ten weeks later, she raced in a 1-win class race, Saffron Sho. She settled in from behind and then moved up in the final straight but lost by a nose to Spring Nova. Seven weeks later, she raced in another 1-win class race, Akamatsu Sho, with Tom Marquand on her saddle. She settled in midfield this time, and in the final straight, she overtook Teleos Sarah to win by three quarters of a horse length.

For the last race of her two-year-old season, she was signed-up for the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies held at Hanshin Racecourse on December 10. This was her first graded stakes race, the first being a grade one. She was favored 5th in the race with Christophe Lemaire on her saddle. Settling in midfield from the start, she traveled well into the final straight but lost by a neck to Ascoli Piceno, finishing second place.

2024: three-year-old season
Stellenbosch entered straight to Oka Sho, the first leg of the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown. With João Moreira on her saddle, she was the second most favored horse to win the race. She settled in midfield from the start, and in the final straight, she moved out ahead of Ascoli Piceno, winning the race by three quarters of a horse length.

Racing statistics
Below data is based on data available on JBIS Search, and NetKeiba.

Legend:

Pedigree

 * She is related to 2023 Hopeful Stakes winner, Regaleira, through Land's Edge.
 * Land's Edge's half brother is Deep Impact and Black Tide.