The last time Star Anise (Drefong) was asked to travel a distance as short as 1200 metres, she broke her maiden at second asking at Kokura in July of 2025. Fast-forward 14 months and the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) heroine is looking for redemption after tiring in the 2400-metre G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) in Sunday's G1 Sprinters Stakes.Carrying up to 11 pounds less than her rivals, the Katsumi Yoshida runner shares her 119-pound weight with fellow three-year-old filly and G3 Fantasy Stakes victress Black Chalice (Kitasan Black). The duo break from stalls nine and 12, respectively.Trainer Tomokazu Takano said of the race favourite, “She's worked very well on the uphill training track. We've been careful about giving her just the right amount of training. The jockey [Christophe Lemaire] has also praised her efforts. Looking at the races in the autumn, she's likely to be more suited to this one, as opposed to the Shuka Sho, which is run over 2000 meters. With the ability she has, I think she'll perform well over 1200 meters without any problem. Her breeding also suggests this too, so I can believe in her doing well, with the training we've given her.”A trio of former Sprinters Stakes winners are signed on to oppose. Lugal (Duramente), the winner of the 2024 edition, is seeking his first victory since the 2025 G2 Hanshin Cup last December. He was second to Native Approach (Too Darn Hot) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in March, and reported home eighth in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in June.Assistant trainer Hirotaka Hanada said, “His workload's been good, and I think he's ready to try another Grade 1 race again. His starts have been better recently, and I think that helps him progress from race to race.”Last year's victor Win Carnelian (Screen Hero) has rolled a pair of thirds in his two most recent trips to the post, in March's G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen behind Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa) and Red Mon Reve (Lord Kanaloa), and in the wake of Sound Moryana (Mikki Isle) and 2025 G1 NHK Mile Cup hero Panja Tower (Tower Of London) in the G3 Keeneland Cup in August. Red Mon Reve was 16th in the G2 Centaur Stakes behind Flicker Jab (Saturnalia), Puro Magic (Asia Express) and the 2023 Sprinters Stakes heroine Mama Cocha (Kurofune) earlier this month.“He's in very good order and I'm pleased with him,” said trainer Yuichi Shikato said of Win Carnelian. “I can evaluate him highly. He's shown that even though he's a nine-year-old, he's still very well and is a match for younger horses. He was well forward in the race last year, and I think that will be the plan this time as well. If he gets to concentrate right throughout the race, I think he has a chance to win this year too.”The post Drefong’s Star Anise Takes On Japan’s Best Sprinters appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.