Although it is only April, the Classic season starts with a bang, as Hanshin hosts the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) over 1600 metres on Sunday.The highlight of the race is the 2025 Japanese Champion Juvenile Filly Star Anise (Drefong). She defeated Garavogue (Lord Kanaloa) in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies en route to 2025 Japanese Champion Two-Year-Old Filly honours. However, the champ has yet to grace a racecourse in 2026 and makes her seasonal bow in the first Classic of the year from stall 15 in the 18-horse field.Trainer Tomokazu Takano said, “In her last race, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, the jockey (Kohei Matsuyama) had faith in her and took her wide and traveled there. She handled it well and it was a strong race.“She came back to the training center on March 20 and has put on muscle. In her fast work on April 1, the jockey rode and her movement was very powerful. She looked good overall and all aspects of her preparation have gone well.”A dual winner at two, Dream Core (Kizuna) gets the nod in the ante-post markets and squares off with the juvenile champ on Sunday. She bested Zippy Tune (Lord Kanaloa) in the G3 Daily Hai Queen Cup on Valentine's Day going this distance and could yet improve.Trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara, Hagiwara, who also trained Dream Core's dam Normcore to victories in the G1 Victoria Mile and G1 Hong Kong Cup, said, “The Queen Cup was her fourth start and for the first time, she displayed a different burst of speed. I decided to train her at Ritto so we would avoid shipping in right before the race, and also so I could be assured we'd get enough training sessions in. She has adapted well to the new surroundings and everything has gone smoothly since she got to Ritto. The track layouts are different from Miho so it's a bit difficult to get a feel for them, but we got ample work.“Her body weight has increased from her debut and I don't consider that to be a bad thing. During this immediate period her weight has been about the same as it was for her last start. I think everything is going well going into the race. She and her dam Normcore don't look alike, but this one has inherited her high ability.”Another with 2026 form is Black Chalice (Kitasan Black). Booked in stall 17 and group-placed at two, she put it all together in the G3 Fairy Stakes at the Oka Sho distance in early January.“In the Fairy Stakes (G3, 1,600m), she got a good position, raced nicely balanced and very well,” said trainer Koshiro Take. “She has matured, so we've given her ample work and I think she'll go to the gate in good shape. Up to now the extra distance hasn't prevented her from getting a good position. Her strong point is her good racing sense.”Yet to taste group company is the three-for-three Lily Joie (Silver State), the stablemate of Black Chalice. Untested at the 1600-metre distance, the ¥50,600,000 JRHA Select Sale weanling graduate claimed the Listed Kobai Stakes in January.Take added, “She does tend to make a huge effort in her racing, so I go easy on the workouts. She has filled out and I'm glad we were able to give her ample time. The distance is no worry. Key will be being able to relax during the race.“I am a bit concerned about the atmosphere on a Group 1 day. Also, she has a very competitive spirit, so staying balanced is key. She has a fantastic spring to her gait and a wide range of motion. Her stride is big and she does best on a firm surface.”Successful going a mile in Kyoto's Listed Elfin Stakes in February, Sweet Happiness (Real Impact) aims to improve on her fourth-place effort in the Hanshin Juvenile Filles in the wake of the race favourite, as does fifth-place finisher Alankar (Epiphaneia).The post Drefong Filly Shooting For The Stars In Oka Sho appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.