With many of Japan's stars currently in Dubai, the April 6 renewal of the Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse looks like an opportunity for some up-and-coming relative youngsters.
High on that list is Stellenbosch. The 4-year-old Epiphaneia filly has never been worse than third in any of her eight starts. She finished second in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) to wind up 2023 with two wins and two seconds, won the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1) to start her 3-year-old season and was second in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1).
After a summer break, she was third in the Shuka Sho (G1) and traveled to Hong Kong to finish third in the Hong Kong Vase (G1), won by Giavellotto, who is entered for the April 5 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T).
Sixpence, a 4-year-old colt by Kizuna out of the grade 1-winning Twirling Candy mare Finley'sluckycharm, gets a class and distance test after a sparkling performance in his 2025 debut, winning the Nakayama Kinen (G2) while stopping the timer at race-record 1:44.80 for 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles).
Sixpence has won five of six career starts, defeated only in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) when asked to go 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles). The Osaka Hai is 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) around the inner loop of the Hanshin turf course.
Sakae Kunieda trains both Stellenbosch and Sixpence and had good reports on both.
About Sixpence: "I think it shows what a talented horse he is, being able to win the Nakayama Kinen in record time after returning from a break and being about 80% ready. The distance of the race will be longer this time, but I think he can handle distances up to 2,000 meters, and there should be other horses to set the pace, making things easier for him."
About Stellenbosch: "It was tough for her last time in the Hong Kong Vase, having to race wide throughout the race. She's been a bit unlucky in her last two starts. We've had this race in mind for her next, and since returning from a spell at the farm, she seems to be in good condition."
Joao Moreira rides Stellenbosch and Takeshi Yokoyama subs aboard Sixpence for Christophe Lemaire, who is otherwise occupied in Dubai.
The 2024 Osaka Hai winner, Bellagio Opera, returns for another shot. The 5-year-old son of Lord Kanaloa came up short in three subsequent starts and has not raced since finishing fourth in the Arima Kinen (G1) in December.
Also competing are grade 1 winners Justin Palace and Sol Oriens, plus the promising Ho O Biscuits.
