Puro Magic relies on pure speed to capture the Sprinters Stakes
The Asia Express filly dictated the pace from the start and held off the charge of World’s End by a neck to record her inaugural G1 victory. Market favorite Star Anise encountered traffic in the home stretch before closing willingly to finish fourth on her return while dropping down from 2,400 to 1,200 meters
NAKAYAMA, Japan (Special for Turf Diario).— Puro Magic possessed a distinct advantage known to all, and jockey Mirai Iwata seized upon it without hesitation: her pure speed. Breaking sharply from the outside post, the filly darted across the field to secure the early lead and never relinquished her advantage, capturing the Sprinters Stakes (G1-1,200 m) on Sunday for the crowning victory of her career.
The daughter of Asia Express was forced to dig deep through the final strides, finding just enough resolve to hold off World’s End (Lord Kanaloa) by a neck, with Sound Moryana (Mikki Isle) finishing a nose further back in third.
Post-time favorite Star Anise (Drefong), one of the race's chief attractions while cutting back to 1,200 meters after competing over 2,400 meters in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1), crossed the line fourth after encountering traffic trouble upon entering the stretch before closing fiercely once clear.
With a field of 16 contenders including winners of the previous three editions, the contest posed a tricky tactical puzzle for Puro Magic. Iwata simplified matters from the start.
Breaking from an outside draw, he immediately pressed forward, crossed over ahead of his rivals, and allowed the filly to utilize her natural stride. At times building a lead of roughly 3 lengths entering the far turn, she set a crisp pace.
The main question was how much reserve she would retain for the final furlong. World’s End began reducing the margin while Sound Moryana closed with determination, and Puro Magic started to feel the strain while climbing the final rise toward the wire. However, the pacesetter refused to yield, digging in to preserve the winning neck margin.
The official time of 1m09s20 on good turf fell well short of the track record of 1m06s70 established by Lord Kanaloa(King Kamehameha) in 2012, but that proved secondary for a filly who finally added a G1 triumph to her ledger.
“I was a bit concerned about the turf condition, but thanks to her talent and speed we were able to dictate terms from the front,” Iwata explained. “She was much more relaxed than in her previous race and managed to hold on down the lane.”
Puro Magic had prepared for the Sprinters Stakes through a series of consistent performances in the sprint ranks. She won the Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3) in June followed by the Ibis Summer Dash (G3) in August, achievements that secured her the Summer Sprint Series championship title.
In her most recent outing, she finished second behind Flicker Jab (Saturnalia) in the Centaur Stakes (G3). This time she gained full revenge, as that rival failed to threaten and finished twelfth.
She also finished ahead of three former Sprinters Stakes champions. Defending titleholder Win Carnelian (Screen Hero) finished sixth, 2023 winner Mama Cocha (Kurofune) ended up tenth, while 2024 victor Lugal (Duramente) could manage no better than fourteenth.
For Puro Magic, the victory also provided redemption for her 2025 campaign, where she finished eighth in this event before traveling to Del Mar to contest the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), placing tenth.
Trainer Shogo Yasuda considers that international experience an essential step in her development toward maturity.
“I believe she has evolved since last year. She returned to the stable on September 16 after a short farm rest and showed no ill effects from her previous start. Furthermore, she was much more relaxed than I had anticipated,” he noted.
Encouraging Return for Star Anise
Despite coming up short, the performance of Star Anise was among the notable highlights of the race.
The daughter of Drefong was returning after a four-month layoff while making a drastic distance change. Winner of both the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) and the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) (G1) over 1,600 meters, she had finished twelfth when trying 2,400 meters in the Yushun Himba (G1).
Trainer Tomokazu Takano elected to drop her straight down to 1,200 meters. Partnered by Christophe Lemaire, Star Anise lacked clear running room early in the lane, but once shifted into the clear, she accelerated sharply to claim fourth, finishing close to the top placings.
The result carried special significance for Asia Express, as Puro Magic became his inaugural G1 winner as a sire. Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, the stallion captured the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) in 2013.
It also marked the second G1 triumph for both trainer Yasuda and the 26-year-old jockey Iwata.
Puro Magic had already demonstrated throughout the summer that she belonged among the elite of Japanese sprinting. All that remained was a defining victory to turn that consistency into top-level status. At Nakayama, she set out to claim it from the break, and though her challengers closed in down the stretch, none could get past her.
