Black-Type Analysis: Star Anise Returns In Oka Sho

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan, post time: 15:30, OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥266,000,000, 3yo, f, 1600mT

Field: Festival Hill (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}), Saint Antoine (Jpn) (Drefong), Dear Diamond (Jpn) (Saturnalia {Jpn}), Elegance Ask (Jpn) (Poetic Flare {Ire}), Garavogue (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), I Need You (Jpn) (Fine Needle {Jpn}), Alankar (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Longing Celine (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), Rule The Wave (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Namura Cosmos (Jpn) (Danon Premium {Jpn}), Zippy Tune (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Sweet Happiness (Jpn) ({Jpn}), Lily Joie (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}), Dream Core (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Star Anise (Jpn) (Drefong), Shonan Charis (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Black Chalice (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Presepio (Jpn) (Pas De Trois {Jpn}).

TDN Analysis: Star Anise, the winner of the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies en route to championship honours last year, faces several beaten rivals as she makes her seasonal bow. Garavogue, Sweet Happiness and Alankar reported home third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in last year's test. 2026 group winner Dream Core could step up in a big way here, while the undefeated Lily Joie faces group company for the first time.

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