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Star Anise (horse)

Star Anise is an active Japanese filly thoroughbred racehorse. She was awarded the JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Filly in 2025.

Background
Star Anise is a filly foaled by , who won the Kokura Nisai Stakes in 2011 and the 2012 Centaur Stakes, who was covered by Drefong, who won the 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint. She was bred in Japan by Northern Farm. She is owned by Katsumi Yoshida and trained by . ==Racing Career==
Racing Career
2025: Two-year-old season Jockeyed by Kohei Matsuyama, she made her debut at a debut race for 2 year olds in 29 June held at Kokura Racecourse. She then won her next race, a maiden race held at Kokura Racecourse on 12 July, where she quickly overtook the likes of Tamamo Icarus and and winning by 7 lengths. On 31 August, she raced her first Graded stake, the Chukyo Nisai Stakes at Chukyo racecourse, where she entered the race as the favourite but finished 2nd behind after Candide passed her just before the wire. She raced her final race in 2025, the Grade I Hanshin Juvenile Fillies for two year old fillies. During the race the horse showed signs of being rushed early on, but Matsuyama managed to calm her down before placing themselves in the middle of the pack. On the final stretch, Star Anise surged forward and took the lead, winning her first graded race. Having won 2 races, most notably the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Star Anise was named the Best Two-Year-Old Filly in the 2025 JRA Award. She was the favourite to win the race. After leaving the gate, she was placed in middle pack until the last corner, and on the home straight she found a clear opening and made her move to overtake the pack, winning her second Grade I race and the first leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara. This was the second Oka Sho win since his ride on Daring Tact in 2020 for jockey Kohei Matsuyama, who said after the race, "I'm absolutely thrilled. It was a very competitive field, but as the champion two-year-old, I knew she couldn't lose. I went into the race determined to win, and right now, I just feel relieved." On 15 April, Star Anise's owner announced that she will aim for the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), the second leg of the Japanese Triple Tiara. ==Racing statistic==
Racing statistic
The following racing form is based on information available on netkeiba.com and JBIS-Search. ==Pedigree==
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