Lunation’s Mermaid challenge

Five-year-old mare Lunation steps back up to G3 company for the Mermaid Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Hanshin, Japan, on Sunday, 10 June.

The daughter of Admire Moon finished ninth on her only previous G3 appearance, in the 10-furlong Keisei Hai at Nakayama in January, 2016 – her second career start.

Lunation returned to action this year when quickening up smartly to go to the front in the closing stages for a neck success over the same distance at Tokyo on 13 May.

She won twice at a mile in 2017. Lunation, trained by Toru Kurita and ridden by Kiwamu Ogino, takes on 14 rivals including Kinsho Yukihime and Eterna Minoru, who have both captured G3 races this year.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, reported: “While Lunation has won four races and been placed three times in her career to date, she could only manage ninth in her only previous outing in a G3 race.

“However, the Mermaid Stakes is somewhat of a rarity among Japanese black-type races insofar as it is a handicap and Lunation only carries 50kg.

“With only two of the 14 other runners carrying less weight, she is not entirely without a chance despite a number quality mares lining up against her.”