(Blandford Stakes) and Left Hand (Prix Vermeille). Ridden by Seamie Heffernan she tracked the leaders before going to the front in the straight and held on "gamely" in the closing stages to win in a five-horse blanket finish from Hydrangea, Lady Frankel, Wuheida and Left Hand. For her final run of the year Rhododendron was sent to California for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf over nine furlongs at Del Mar on 4 November and started the 4/1 second favourite behind Lady Eli. She stayed on well in the straight but was beaten a length into second place by Wuheida. 2018: four-year-old season Rhododendron began her third campaign by taking on male opposition for the first time and finishing fourth behind Cracksman in the Prix Ganay over 2100 metres at the re-opened Longchamp Racecourse on 29 April. She was again matched against male opponents in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on 19 May and started the 100/30 favourite in a fourteen-runner field which included Limato, Lancaster Bomber, Lightning Spear, Accidental Agent, Addeybb (Sandon Mile), Suedois (Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes) and Deauville (Belmont Derby). After racing close behind the leaders, the filly produced a strong late run, caught Lightning Spear on the line and won by a short head. Ryan Moore commented "She's been a great filly at two, three and now four. It's testament to everyone who puts in the hard work at home. 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". In the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot Rhododendron started second favourite but never looked likely to win and came home ninth of the fifteen runners behind Accidental Agent. She then finished last of six behind Wild Illusion when favourite for the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on 2 August and last of nine in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville Racecourse later that month. On 15 September she faced top-class male opposition in the Irish Champion Stakes and came home sixth of the seven runners behind Roaring Lion. An attempt to repeat her 2017 success in the Prix de l'Opéra ended in failure as she finished twelfth, more than 20 lengths behind the winner Wild Illusion at Longchamp Racecourse on 7 October. She produced a much better effort in the Champion Stakes at Ascot two weeks later as