Rhododendron blooms for O’brien

● Drop back to mile vindicated with win in Lockinge Stakes

Aidan O’brien’s decision to revert to a mile with Rhododendron yielded satisfying dividends after her rousing victory in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The daughter of Galileo disappointed over a mile and a quarter in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp last time, but everything came together beautifully in Berkshire.

For a moment it looked as though Lightning Spear was going to go one better than in 2017, but Ballydoyle’s 100-30 favourite held on by a short head. O’brien said: “It was a worry coming back to a mile. We were thinking of coming here, then going to Ascot.

“She would have the option of going the mile [Queen Anne] at Ascot or the mile and a quarter [Prince of Wales’s Stakes].”

Winning jockey Ryan Moore, who was celebrating his first Lockinge victory, said: “She’s been unfortunate not to have won more in her time.

“She’s very adaptable with ground, distance and has got a great attitude. I thought she had a massive chance. It’s a great achievement by Aidan.”

Moore finished the day with a treble and was, most notably, on the scoresheet with Crystal Ocean, who proved a class above in the Al Rayyan Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained Sea Of Class emerged as a possible Oaks contender with an impressive win in the Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes. Haggas’s wife and assistant, Maureen, said: “Whether she would quite make that [Epsom], I’m not sure, and it’s only in two weeks’ time. Maybe she will go to Ascot.”

Meanwhile, the Weatherbys Hamilton Leisure Stakes at Windsor today looks an excellent opportunity for Roger Charlton’s Projection, after he fell just short in Group Three company on his initial outing this season.

Brando and Sir Dancealot finishedinfrontofhimatnewmarketthatdayandhavesince franked the form by claiming minor honours behind sprint sensation Harry Angel at York, underlining the value of Projection’s effort.

He tried to do it the hard way and will doubtless make a bit of progress for the outing, while the quicker ground would certainly appear to be a factor in his favour, too.

If The Tin Man turns up at his very best he will take all thebeating,butprojectioncan make his race fitness tell.