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Star Anise stars in the Oka Sho

3 minute read

2025 2yo filly of the year and Hanshin Juvenile Fillies champ has continued her winning ways

STAR ANISE winning the Oka Sho at Hanshin in Japan. Picture: Japan Racing Association

Under Matsuyama she needed to settle early on but then got into a nice rhythm and when Star Anise turned into the straight was happy to respond to her jockey's request and put in a great finishing run to win the Oka Sho

Garavogue ran second on 14.1 and Zippy Tune third on 79.3 who showed a very fast turn of foot in the finishing section.  Dream Core had been juggling favouritism with Star Anise but was very disappointing finishing back in the pack.

On Saturday Reservation, a son of the handsome Danon Premium whom we saw race at Randwick six years ago and come third in the Queen Elizabeth, won the NZ Trophy for 3yo colts after starting at 43.5 with Y Hara on board.  Rodeo Drive was second and third Gene Keing on 11.8.

And at Hanshin on Saturday the Hanshin Himba saw another win by the very talented Embroidery who got the win by a neck from Kamunyaki with Rouge Solitaire third.