The Kejurnas series Open Class A race, today known as the Star of Stars, is a flat horse race in Indonesia for Class A (≥161.1cm) horses aged three and above and is run over a distance of 2,200 meters (approximately 13⁄8 miles). The race is part of the second leg of the Kejurnas series (National Championships), and is usually held in October along with the Super Sprint. It is known as the "highest stage" for horse racing in Indonesia after the Indonesia Derby.

As with most horse races in Indonesia, thoroughred horses are not allowed to compete. Only crossbreeds (called G/KP) and Kuda Pacu Indonesia with a height of 161,1cm or greater are allowed to race.

History

Soeharto Cup (1966–1974) The Star of Stars, as the Open Class A race of the Kejurnas series, can be traced back to the first National Championships in 1966. Back then the annual National Chamionship was a single race, with the winner of the race obtaining the Soeharto Cup. The 1966 edition was the first official national-level horse race held by PORDASI, and it was held after PORDASI was recognized by the government as the sole parent organization for equestrian sports in Indonesia, with Suharto as its patron. The first winner of the Soeharto Cup was Diana, who was owned by Suharto himself.

The one race format of the Soeharto Cup only lasted up until 1974. In the first six years of its existence, the Soeharto Cup was held at various different venues across Bogor, Magelang, Manado, and Bandung, before settling at Jakarta after the completion of the Pulomas Racecourse. The most successful racehorses of the pre-1975 Soeharto Cup were Damayanti with three wins and Primadona with two.

Kejurnas series Open Class A race (1975–now) In 1975, the National Championships format was changed from one race to multiple races of different classifications. Since then, the Soeharto Cup was won by the most successful provincial contingent in two legs of the National Championships. The first leg being the Indonesia Derby, and the second features several races classified by height.

The main race of the second leg of the Kejurnas series was the Open Class A race, which, for most of the New Order era, was named the Ahmad Yani Memorial Cup. The first to win the cup was Damayanti, who had won the last three Soeharto Cups. After the fall of Soeharto, the race went under several different names before being named the Star of Stars during the 2010s.

The length for the race changed over time. It was set to 1600m from its inauguration until the 1990s. In 1989, sprint races were introduced to the National Championships. The new Class A Sprint race was 1200m, and today is called the Super Sprint and has a length of 1300m. In the 90s, the Open Class A was extended to 2000m before being extended once more in 1999 to 2200m, as it stands today.

Saud is the most successful horse in this race, with five consecutive victories from 2010 to 2014. The record is followed by Djohar Manik and Surya Baskara, with three wins each. If 1966–1974 Soeharto Cup wins were counted as well, then Damayanti is the second most successful, with four consecutive wins from 1972 to 1975.

Records Leading horses

5 – Saud (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) 4 – Damayanti (Soeharto Cup 1972, 1973, 1974) (1975) 3 – Djohar Manik (2015, 2017, 2018) 3 – Surya Baskara (2001, 2002, 2003) 2 – Primadona (Soeharto Cup 1970, 1971) 2 – Liberty (1985, 1986) 2 – Galigo (1988, 1989) 2 – Kusuma Bangsa (1989, 2000) 2 – Queen Thalassa (2021, 2023) Most wins by a jockey

7 – Jendri Turangan (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017) 4 – W. Mewengkang (1981, 1982, 1985, 1986) 4 – Jemmy Runtu (2009, 2021, 2023, 2024) Most wins by a trainer

5 – Berty Sondakh (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) 4 – E. Basuki (1975, 1983, 1987, 1988) 3 – Karlan (2021, 2023, 2024) Most wins by an owner

5 – Bagelan Stable (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) 5 – Aragon Stable (2007, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) 4 – Pamulang Stud & Stable (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) 3 – Tombo Ati Stable (2015, 2017, 2018) 3 – King Halim Stable (2021, 2023, 2024)

Winners

Soeharto Cup YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwner(s)Distance1966DianaSoeharto1200m1967Little KingSoemitra1968Bintang KakandaManembu1969KawanuaB. Supit1970PrimadonaA.C.J. Mantiri1971PrimadonaHein Victor Worang1972DamayantiSoemitra1973DamayantiSoemitra1974DamayantiSoemitra

Kejurnas series Open Class A race Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner(s) Length 1975DamayantiSambasEdwin BasukiR. Soemitra1600m 1998 Not held1977CaudelloA. Rumimper -G. A. Siwu1600m1978BrilliantRoyke SondakMartin SupitHarry Soebagio1979TrisulaJ. RoringM. SupitBrilliant Stable1980Mona MiaJ. RoringR. LumintangMaharani Stable1981BryanWelly Mewengkang -Harry Soebagio1982LeonardoWelly Mewengkang -G. A. Siwu1983PalupiCoen SingalEdwin BasukiPrayitno/Sukun Stable1984Mawar MelatiJ. SumuwengA. LanujayaR. S. Natalegawa1985LibertyWelly MewengkangE. DarusmanStal Liberty1986LibertyWelly Mewengkang -Liberty Stable1987AtillaR. PantouwEdwin BasukiPrajitno/Sukun Stable1988GaligoCoen SingalEdwin BasukiAhmad Rizal1989GaligoCoen SingalDr. Ahmad RizalDr. Ahmad Rizal1990?1991?1992?1993?1994?1995? 1996 Robin Hood - Wahono AT Ir. Jeane 2000m 1997 Zippo - - Felix 1998 Cancelled 1999 Kusuma Bangsa - - Tommy Wuisang 2200m 2000 Kusuma Bangsa - - Tommy Wuisang 2001 Surya Baskara - - Pamulang Stud & Stable 2002 Surya Baskara - - Pamulang Stud & Stable 2003 Surya Baskara - - Pamulang Stud & Stable 2004 Bayu Taruna - - Pamulang Stud & Stable 2005 Lady Borjuise - - - 2006 Exotica - - Agam Tirto Buwono 2007 Star Show E. Sonitan Iwan Kurniawan Aragon Stable 2008 Bintang Klabat F. Nayoan Tonny Rumambi Olly Dondokambey 2009 Poseidon J. Runtu Eddy Wowiling Cheng Kwok Kwai 2010 Saud J. Turangan Berty Sondakh Ir. Kristianto S. (Bagelen Stable) 2011 Saud J. Turangan Berty Sondakh Ir. Kristianto S. (Bagelen Stable) 2012 Saud J. Turangan Berty Sondakh Ir. Kristianto S. (Bagelen Stable) 2013 Saud J. Turangan Berty Sondakh Ir. Kristianto S. (Bagelen Stable) 2014 Saud J. Turangan Berty Sondakh Ir. Kristianto S. (Bagelen Stable) 2015 Djohar Manik J. Turangan Edwin Basuki Aragon & Tombo Ati Stable 2016 Red Silenos D. Suhendar Iwan Kurniawan Karina & Karisa Saddak (Aragon Stable) 2017 Djohar Manik J. Turangan Edwin Basuki Aragon & Tombo Ati Stable 2018 Djohar Manik A. Manarisip J. Turangan Aragon & Tombo Ati Stable 2019 Manguni Makasiouw H. Paendong H. Roring Manguni Makasiouw Stable 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Queen Thalassa J. Runtu Karlan King Halim Stable 2200m 2022 Lyana Nagari F. Sangian Mario Bahar Bendang Stable 2023 Queen Thalassa J. Runtu Karlan King Halim Stable 2024 Queen Divona J. Runtu Karlan King Halim Stable 2025 Naga Sembilan Achmad Saefudin Bagus haryanto Ny. Raihana Bagus (Red Stone Stable)

References