Star Anise Faces Distance Test in Japanese Oaks

Star Anise (JPN), a Drefong filly looking for her third grade 1 victory, takes the starring role in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1T) May 24 at Tokyo Racecourse but there's a crowd, including some largely unexposed rivals, looking to make a mark at her expense. Star Anise won last year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1T) and the first of this year's filly Triple Crown races, the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1T), setting herself up at the top of the division. The big ask going forward is the distance—up from the 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) of the last two wins to 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) this time around. Both trainer Tomokazu Takano and jockey Kohei Matsuyama said they're eager to see if Star Anise can stay the course. "I think she's better than she was for her last race," Takano said after the filly drew gate 10 of 18. "We won't know about the 2,400 meters until we try. But we can believe in the horse and jockey to do their best." "I'll be doing my best to get her to run well," Matsuyama chimed in. "She started well last time and ran a good race. She's improved a lot mentally. To be honest, the distance this time may be a bit long, but she has the ability to do well." Her sire Drefong was a three-time grade 1 sprint winner for trainer Bob Baffert. His victories included the 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Her dam, Epice Arome (JPN), provides some stamina hope thanks to her sire Daiwa Major and grandsire Sunday Silence. None of the other 17 fillies has performed at Star Anise's level and a few who looked ready to take a step forward flopped in their most recent outings. Dream Core (JPN) won the Daily Hai Queen Cup (G3T) in February and Longing Celine (JPN) was second in the Flower Cup (G3T). They reported ninth and 18th in the Guineas. Smart Priere (JPN), upset winner of the Flower Cup, hasn't raced since that March 21 event and is not in the Oaks field. Dream Core's trainer, Masahiro Otake, said conditions could suit his filly better in the Oaks. "Compared to before her last race," Otake said, "she's more relaxed and running a lot smoother. … She showed a fair turn of foot last time. With her big stride and her being more relaxed, the extended trip this time should suit her." Trainer Masahiro Takeuchi said Longing Celine "probably doesn't have the speed to do well over a mile. She seems to be improving. The 2,400 meters might be just a little long for her, but it's mostly the same for the other horses of the same age." Others still face their first big test. Laughterlines (JPN) has two wins, a second and two thirds from five starts with one of the victories coming in her last start in the Flora Stakes (G2T) at 2,000 meters. Ange de Joie (JPN) is undefeated after two starts and takes a big class jump. Enne (JPN) won her debut, then finished second in the Flora Stakes. Past Oaks winners include Almond Eye (JPN), Liberty Island (JPN) and Loves Only You (JPN), who went on to win the 2021 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) in an international breakthrough for Japanese racing. The race starts midway down the Tokyo Racecourse stretch and takes a full lap around the left-handed turf before the final run past the Fuji-view grandstand.