SUNDAY, 20 MAY, 2018 The way Susan Magnier=s bay moved through that Classic RHODODENDRON TAKES really took the eye and suggested she had lost none of the verve with which she attacked the previous year=s Fillies= Mile, where LOCKINGE THRILLER she cut down smart rivals in a heartbeat. In that regard, she was possibly always a strong-staying miler who was stretching beyond her comfort zone but after breaking a blood vessel in the G1 Prix de Diane still managed to come back and annexe the 10-furlong Opera in testing conditions before almost overcoming the widest stall in Del Mar=s GI Breeders= Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November. After a return fourth in the G1 Prix Ganay over a mile and a quarter at ParisLongchamp Apr. 29, it was time to shorten up with Ballydoyle looking to take advantage of a relatively weak older horse mile division. With a talented squad assembled to escort her through this contest, Rhododendron served notice of her wellbeing with some Zenyatta-style prancing on the way out of the parade ring and the only concern was the slick ground which had led to a front-running bias on the card so far. As usual, her connections were tactically ahead of the curve and while it is probably an Rhododendron and connections | racingfotos.com exaggeration to say that the race was won in the first furlong, the fact that she broke rapidly and was up front with Deauville and Lancaster Bomber to lead her made a major difference to Not seen over a mile since finishing an arguably unlucky the outcome. When Moore sent her on past that duo with over second in Newmarket=s G1 1000 Guineas last May, two to race, she was left isolated with last year=s runner-up Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had all the required pace to Lightning Spear edging to the rail after Oisin Murphy had given come out on top in a competitive renewal of Newbury=s G1 Al him a breather two out. Cont. p2 Shaqab Lockinge S. on Saturday. Well-supported into 10-3 favouritism, the G1 Fillies= Mile and G1 Prix de l=Opera heroine had a perfect pace scenario tracking fellow Ballydoyle Group 1 SHE’S A GROUP 1 WINNER AT TWO, performers Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Lancaster Bomber THREE AND NOW FOUR, AND HAS HAD (War Front), who pressed on with urgence on a track hugely favouring those on the speed. Committed approaching the final AN INCREDIBLE CAREER. quarter mile by Ryan Moore, the filly was alone in the centre as Ryan Moore on Rhododendron the veteran Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) made his bid towards the stand=s rail. Typically game and determined on the run to the line, she had her head down where it mattered and the photo revealed it was just the bob of heads which had decided a short verdict. AI thought I=d got there, but I wasn=t really sure--it was hard to know,@ Moore said. AShe=s a Group 1 winner at two, three and IN TDN AMERICA TODAY now four and has had an incredible career. She could have won JUSTIFY LANDS PREAKNESS IN FOG a lot more at three, so this is well deserved.@ GI Kentucky Derby hero Justify (Scat Daddy) nabbed Pimlico’s While it appeared disappointing at the time, Rhododendron=s GI Preakness S. in the slop and fog Saturday. Click or tap here to heavy defeat at the hands of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the go straight to TDN America. G1 Epsom Oaks now reads as strong form. TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 OF 14 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 20 MAY, 2018 Rhododendron Takes Lockinge Thriller Cont. from p1 Halfway To Heaven has only visited Galileo so far, with her first Spread apart, it was neck-and-neck all the way inside the last foal being the G3 International S. winner Flying the Flag (Ire) and furlong but the Ballydoyle filly majors in toughness and that and her 2015 offering being last year=s G2 Debutante S. scorer and her sex allowance narrowly decided the issue on the day. G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Magical (Ire). She also has a AAfter what happened to her in the French Oaks, Aidan and yearling filly to follow. Click for the free Equineline.com the team have achieved a massive turnaround and it says it all catalogue-style pedigree. about the people at home to get her back,@ Moore added. AShe was unlucky in the Guineas, ran into Enable in the Oaks and had she had a better draw at Del Mar would have won there as Saturday, Newbury, Britain well.@ AL SHAQAB LOCKINGE S.-G1, ,350,000, Newbury, 5-19, 4yo/up, O=Brien is eyeing Royal Ascot now. AIt all worked out the way 8fT, 1:35.07, g/f. we thought it would and we had been very happy with her since 1--RHODODENDRON (IRE), 123, f, 4, by Galileo (Ire) the last day,@ he said. AWe hoped she had progressed, but she 1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, hadn=t been back there [to a mile] since the Guineas. We had G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139), by Pivotal (GB) hoped she=d move up another little bit whatever she did today 2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire) and we were thinking of here and then Ascot for the mile [June 3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; 19 G1 Queen Anne S.] or mile and a quarter [June 20 G1 Prince B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O=Brien; J-Ryan of Wales=s S.]. We=ll speak to Ryan and see what the lads want to Moore. ,198,485. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ire, G1SW- do. It is a big team effort and the people who looked after her Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ire & GISP-US, 13-5-4-1, $1,715,911. *Full to after France [the Diane] are the ones who made it happen. The Magical (Ire), GSW & G1SP-Ire, $246,117, & to Flying the Flag lads had unbelievable patience and that made it incredibly easy (Ire), GSW-Ire & GSP-SAf, $195,702. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ for us.@ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Lightning Spear=s trainer David Simcock has his horses in top order and was both delighted and disappointed with a fifth 2--Lightning Spear (GB), 126, h, 7, Pivotal (GB)--Atlantic Destiny placing in Group 1 company from Lightning Spear. (Ire), by Royal Academy. (260,000gns Ylg '12 TAOCT). O-Qatar AI=m very proud and gutted too,@ he said. AI was praying and I Racing Ltd; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-David Simcock. ,75,250. thought he=d won. He got a great ride--he counted to five first. 3--Lancaster Bomber, 126, c, 4, War Front--Sun Shower (Ire), by = = = We re very fond of him and he s never let us down, but I d really Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan have liked to have won one with him. Fair play to the filly and I Magnier; B-Sun Shower Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. ,37,660. suppose we=ll go to the Queen Anne now.@ Pedigree Notes... In winning for the third time at the highest level, Margins: NO, 2 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.30, 16.00, 10.00. Rhododendron was equalling the tally of her fellow Aidan Also Ran: Dutch Connection (GB), Deauville (Ire), Accidental O=Brien-trained dam Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) who Agent (GB), Suedois (Fr), Addeybb (Ire), Alexios Komnenos (Ire), went on from the Irish 1000 Guineas to capture the Sun Chariot Limato (Ire), Zonderland (GB), Beat the Bank (GB), Zabeel Prince and Nassau trying a mile and a quarter at Goodwood. The latter (Ire), War Decree. Scratched: Lahore, Librisa Breeze (GB). Click success was stretching her stamina as far as it goes, with her for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. dam Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) being the seriously fast sprinter for Trevor Stewart, who was running far enough PLAIN SAILING when runner-up to Mozart (Ire) in the 2001 G1 July Cup. This Anything other than a clear-cut success in Saturday=s G3 Al remarkable family also contains the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Rayyan S., or Aston Park S. as it is registered, would have been a Sandown Sprint S. winner Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit disappointment for >TDN Rising Star= Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the {Ire}) and the G3 Summer S. winner Theann (GB) (Rock of Stars {Ire}) and he duly delivered with a commanding six-length Gibraltar {Ire), who in turn produced the GI First Lady S. and GI defeat of Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Tackling the fastest Rodeo Drive S. heroine Photo Call (Ire) by Rhododendron=s sire turf he has encountered so far at a sun-baked Newbury, last Galileo. Cassandra Go is kin to the G3 Coventry S. scorer and G1 year=s G1 St Leger runner-up tracked the early pace under Ryan Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}) Moore before being asked to take over approaching the final who proved a hit at stud before his untimely demise. two furlongs. Cont. p3 TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 OF 14 • THETDN.COM SUNDAY • 20 MAY, 2018 G3 Aston Park S. Cont. Staying on strongly to the line, the 2-5 favourite looked all over a specialist at this distance and his jockey confirmed that impression.