Star of Stars

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.^[1] It is known as the "highest stage" for horse racing in Indonesia after the Indonesia Derby.^[2]

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.

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.^[3]

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.^[3]

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

Saud is the most successful horse in this race, with five consecutive victories from 2010 to 2014. The record is followed by Djohar Manik^[5] 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.

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)