RHODODENDRON claimed the G1 £350,000 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes with a dramatic short-head win from Lightning Spearat Newbury on Saturday.

The four-year-old (Aidan O’Brien IRE/Ryan Moore, 100/30 fav) came out on top in the famous contest run up the straight mile, handing O’Brien a second Lockinge victory after Hawk Wing in 2003.

Rhododendron was the first filly to succeed in the race since Red Evie in 2007 and was a third top-level victory, following her wins in the 2016 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and the 2017 Prix de l’Opera at Chantilly.

The daughter of Galileo was also runner-up in both the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas and Investec Oaks in 2017.

Rhododendron’s stable companions Deauville (Wayne Lordan, 16/1) and Lancaster Bomber (Seamie Heffernan, 10/1) took the field along in the early stages, with Rhododendron settled in third by Moore.

The eventual winner came through to lead well over a furlong out and managed to hold the strong challenge of Lightning Spear (David Simcock/Oisin Murphy, 16/1) in the final strides by a short-head in 1m 35.07s on good to firm going.

Lancaster Bomber kept on in third, another two-and-three-quarters lengths behind, with Godolphin’s Dutch Connection (Charlie Hills/Jamie Spencer, 50/1), who was slow into stride, a further three quarters of a length in arrears in fourth.

O’Brien said: “The race set up the way we thought it would.

“We thought Deauville would go on because he wants a strongly-run mile, but we were a bit worried as he missed a bit of time and we thought he would come forward for the run.

“We knew Lancaster Bomber would follow him and Ryan was very happy to follow them both.

“We were very happy with Rhododendron the last day and everyone was very happy going into this. We were hoping she had progressed and we were going back to a mile – she hadn’t been back to that trip since she ran in the Guineas.”

He continued: “Ryan gave her a brilliant ride and we are thankful to everybody closely involved with her every day. It’s a big team effort and the lads have unbelievable patience. Whatever was suggested, they were always very happy to go with it, which made it incredibly easy for us.

“We were thinking of coming here and then going to Ascot. We have the option of going over a mile again or a mile and a quarter. We will have a good chat with Ryan and obviously the lads always talk after the races to see what they want to do close to Ascot.

“Lancaster Bomber is in a good place. He loves a mile and fast ground. The Queen Anne looks made for him.”

More than 10,000 spectators watched the action, with other notable winners Never Back Down in the Shalaa Carnarvon Stakes, Crystal Ocean in the Al Rayyan Stakes and Communique in the Al Zubarah London Gold Cup Handicap.

There was also a seven-race card at the venue on Friday.