The Centaur Stakes (セントウルステークス, Sentouru Sutekusu) is a Grade 2 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) at Hanshin Racecourse in September.It was first run in 1987 and takes its name from a statue at the racecourse in the form of the mythological creature Centaur.Prior to 2000 the race was run over a distance of 1,400 metres (7 furlongs), and having originally been classed as a Domestic Grade 3 race, it was promoted to Domestic Grade 2 status in 2006 and it was promoted to International Grade 2 status in 2007.From 2005 to 2010 it was a leg of the Global Sprint Challenge series.