Ladies Of The Lockinge

Ahead of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, we take a look back at the five mares who bested their male competitors to win the Group 1 feature race.

1984: Cormorant Wood

Cormorant Wood made history when becoming the first filly to win the Lockinge Stakes in 1984 as a four-year-old. As a three-year-old she won both the Sun Chariot Stakes and Champion Stakes for trainer Barry Hills and owner breeder Robert McAlpine. Having failed to stay one and a half miles, she was dropped back to one mile for her four year old seasonal reappearance in the Lockinge Stakes which was then run as a Group 3 contest. Ridden by Steve Cauthen, she was joined in the final strides to end up in a dead heat finish with Wassl. After a dominant performance to win the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York in 1984, she sustained a career ending injury and was retired to stud.

2004: Russian Rhythm

Victory in the Group 1 Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes was to be the last run in the career of Russian Rhythm. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute for Cheveley Park Stud, the daughter of Kingmambo won seven of her ten career starts and provided her trainer with a sixth Lockinge success. She won three consecutive Group 1's as a three-year-old including the 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes. After a 210 day break, Russian Rhythm had her first start of the season at Newbury when sent off 3/1 favourite in the fifteen strong field. She held on gamely from the Luca Cumani-trained Salselon to win by half a length under Kieren Fallon.

2006: Peeress

Owned and bred by Cheveley Park Stud, Peeress was trained by Sir Michael Stoute. The daughter of Pivotal won the 2006 renewal of the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes under Kieren Fallon. Having already recorded a Group 1 win in the Sun Chariot Stakes, Peeress was having her first run of the season after a break of 217 days. Sent off at odds of 4/1, she stayed on gamely to win by one and three quarter lengths ahead of Majors Cast, ridden by Frankie Dettori for Jeremy Noseda. She came close to another Group 1 win in the Matron Stakes but went down by a short-head to Red Evie who would subsequently win the Lockinge Stakes the following year. Peeress finished down the field in the 2007 Lockinge Stakes which was to be the last run of her career.

2007: Red Evie

Trained by Michael Bell for owner Terry Neill, Red Evie was ridden to victory in the 2007 renewal of the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes by Jamie Spencer. The daughter of Intikhab had already landed success at the highest level when winning the Group 1 Matron Stakes as a three-year-old, the seventh consecutive victory for Red Evie in 2006. Having finished tailed off in the Sun Chariot Stakes, she started her four-year-old campaign at Newbury after a break of 231 days. Sent off at odds of 8/1, she renewed her rivalry with 11/8 favourite Peeress but it was Romonti whom Red Evie held off to win by a head. Having finished down the field in both the Queen Anne Stakes and Falmouth Stakes after her Lockinge victory, Red Evie returned to Newbury and dropped back in trip to win the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes over seven furlongs. Her most notable progeny is Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Found.

2018: Rhododendron

Rhododendron, trained by Aidan O'Brien, held off the challenge of 13 male rivals when landing the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes in 2018. The 100/30 favourite got the better of the David Simcock trained Lightening Spear in a back-and-forth tussle to clinch victory by a short-head under Ryan Moore. The runner up in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf the previous season, the daughter of Galileo recorded her third Group 1 victory at Newbury after having previously won the Prix de l'Opera and the Fillies' Mile. She retired at the end of 2018 having amassed £1,363,927 in prize money. As a broodmare, she is the dam of Auguste Rodin, the five time Group 1 winner including the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby.

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