Aidan O'Brien has four in deep renewal of Lockinge Stakes

Four horses that ran in Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar last November, including Filly and Mare Turf runner-up Rhododendron and Mile second-place finisher Lancaster Bomber, are part of a strong field of 16 in Saturday’s Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at a mile at Newbury Racecourse in England.

As of Thursday, the favorite in future-book betting was Rhododendron, the only filly in the field, who was fourth on April 29 in the Group 1 Prix Ganay at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, her lone start this year.

A 4-year-old, Rhododendron was 7-2 with British bookmakers to win the third Group 1 win of her career, a slight choice over Addeybb and Limato, who were 9-2. Rhododendron won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile for 2-year-olds at Newmarket in 2016 and the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera for fillies and mares at Chantilly last October.

The Prix Ganay was her 12th career start, and first against males. She finished 5 1/2 lengths behind Cracksman, who is rated as the leading older horse in Europe.

Rhododendron is one of four Lockinge runners trained by Aidan O’Brien, who starts Deauville, the winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in 2016; Lancaster Bomber, who was 11th in the Dubai Turf in the United Arab Emirates on March 31; and War Decree, who was ninth in the BC Classic last November and was second in the minor Huxley Stakes at Chester Racecourse in England on May 11.

The Lockinge Stakes is the first Group 1 for older horses of the British flat season and could provide vital clues for the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at a mile at Royal Ascot on June 19.

The race will be a class test for Addeybb, a 4-year-old gelding trained by William Haggas who has won five of seven starts, including his last three races. Addeybb won the Lincoln Handicap at a mile at Doncaster on March 20 and the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown Park on April 27. This will be Adeybb’s first start in a Group 1 race.

Limato won the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Chantilly in 2016 and the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at seven furlongs at Newmarket last October in his most recent start. A 6-year-old gelding trained by Henry Candy, Limato is winless in two starts at a mile.

There are five Group 1 or Grade 1 winners in the field, including Suedois and Librisa Breeze.

Suedois won the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile at Keeneland last October and was fourth in the BC Mile at Del Mar. Librisa Breeze won the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot last October, but was ninth in the Al Quoz Sprint in the United Arab Emirates on March 31.