Stellenbosch has credentials to get distance in Japanese Oaks

A fine race record and an outstanding pedigree suggest Stellenbosch can handle racing at 1 1/2 miles when she starts at the distance for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.

Stellenbosch was a neck away from the champion 2-year-old filly title last year, losing by that margin in the season-ending championship race, the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at a mile.

In her 2024 debut, Stellenbosch closed from off the pace to win the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas at a mile at Hanshin on April 7.

The $2.08 million Japanese Oaks, which drew a full field of 18, will be the longest race for Stellenbosch, who won a maiden race for first-time starters at 1 1/8 miles at Sapporo last July. The Japanese 1000 Guineas was her first stakes win.

Stellenbosch, who is trained by Sakae Kunieda for owner Katsumi Yoshida, is by Epiphaneia, the winner of the 2014 Japan Cup. Stellenbosch is out of Bloukrans, a two-time winner at 1 1/4 miles in 2017 and 2018.

In the Japanese Oaks, Stellenbosch has a favorable draw in post 7. She has a high standard to emulate. Liberty Island swept the 2023 Triple Crown for Japanese fillies, which consists of the 1000 Guineas, Oaks, and Shuka Sho, a race at 1 1/4 miles in the autumn.

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Liberty Island has since finished second in the Grade 1 Japan Cup last November, and third in the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai in March, competing against males in two of the world’s leading races at 1 1/2 miles.

The Japanese Oaks field includes Cervinia and Light Back, who were 13th and third in the 1000 Guineas.

Cervinia won the Artemis Stakes at a mile at Tokyo last October in her final start of 2023 under jockey Christophe Lemaire, who regains the mount on Sunday. Lemaire was sidelined with an injury when Cervinia was well beaten in the 1000 Guineas.

Light Back has a brighter recent record, having lost the 1000 Guineas by a length. A closer who was fourth in the 2023 Artemis, Light Back won her 2024 debut in the Elfin Stakes at a mile at Kyoto on Feb. 3.

This extended distance should suit Admire Belle, who won the Grade 2 Flora Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Tokyo on April 21, finishing a length in front of Lavanda, another runner in the Oaks.

The Oaks is the Grade 1 debut for Admire Belle and Lavanda, who both race as stalkers and are capable of completing an exacta if Stellenbosch runs to expectations.

Post time for the Japanese Oaks is 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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