Star Anise regarded each bit the star within the making because the Drefong filly swept to a simple victory within the April 12 Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1T) at Hanshin Racecourse whereas making her first begin of the 12 months.
The 1,600-meter (about 1-mile) Oka Sho, first leg of the Japanese filly Triple Crown, had handicapping questions stamped throughout it, together with whether or not Star Anise could be at her finest and not using a run since profitable the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1T) Dec. 14.
Ultimately, the only reply proved to be appropriate as Star Anise went to the put up as a stable favourite and had no hassle exchanging the 2025 Greatest 2-Yr-Outdated Filly crown for a superb begin in 2026. And the runner-up within the Juvenile Fillies, Garavogue, bounced again from a ninth-place end within the Queen Cup (G3T) Feb. 14 to complete second, 2 1/2 lengths again of the winner.
Zippy Tune, at odds simply shy of 80-1, snuck up the rail within the ultimate 100 meters to get third however Star Anise confirmed no indicators of flagging through the uphill climb to the end, stopping the timer at 1:31.5. Sodashi established the course and race report time of 1:31.1 in 2021.
Star Anise began from gate 15 in a subject of 18 and established place exterior rivals about midway again. At in regards to the 800-meter mark, she briefly appeared unsettled however jockey Kohei Matsuyama shortly received her again into focus.Join BloodHorse Every day
She superior easily round rivals into the straight and dominated from 200 meters out.
“The race was mentioned to be a detailed competitors this 12 months,” Matsuyama mentioned. “However I had each religion in my filly and whereas the stress to run because the 2025 2-year-old champion was nice, I’m relieved and comfortable to have been in a position to present the followers the ability that she possesses.
“My predominant aim through the race was to have her keep in good rhythm and I felt loads of vitality beneath me, a lot in order that I might maintain her again and nonetheless belief her to reply powerfully when requested, which she did with nice ease.”
Matsuyama scored his second Oka Sho win. The primary got here in 2020 with Daring Tact , who went on to brush the fillies Triple Crown. With distance questions looming, Star Anise’s connections haven’t indicated whether or not she’s going to pursue that path.
The subsequent leg of the Triple Crown is the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1T) at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), which might not appear, on paper, to suit Star Anise’s profile. Her sire, Drefong, was the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1) winner and Eclipse Award champion male sprinter for coach Bob Baffert and her dam, Epice Arome, completed sixteenth within the Yushun Himba in her solely effort longer than 1,600 meters.
“I’m not sure what plan awaits her after this race,” Matsuyama mentioned. “However I feel that she has an incredible future to stay up for.”
Each Garavogue and Zippy Tune are by famous person sprinter Lord Kanaloa however their pedigrees present the affect of Japan’s relentless acquisition of high North American mares.
Garavogue’s dam, Lexie Lou , gained the 2014 Queen’s Plate, a number of graded stakes, and 4 Sovereign Awards for proprietor Gary Barber and coach Mark Casse. Zippy Tune’s dam, Zipessa , gained the 2017 First Girl Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland and twice contested the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), ending fifth in that occasion in 2016 for Empyrean Stables and Mark Stidham.
Star Anise was produced by Epice Arome, by Daiwa Main . She was bred by Northern Farm and carries the colours of Katsumi Yoshida. Tomokazu Takano is the coach.
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