Hannon & Hughes double up

Best Terms edged out Shumoos to win the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Richard Hughes, Best Terms provided the pair with yet another juvenile winner at the Royal Meeting when getting the better of the well-backed Shumoos.

The runner-up had been all the rage for this contest since sluicing home in a Haydock maiden on debut and that form was given a boost when the third, Frederick Engels, won at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

However, Best Terms quickened up the better of the pair and completed a hat-trick after victories at Windsor and Newbury.

Shumoos was beaten a short-head with 100-1 Caledonia Lady running a huge race for Pat Murphy in third just a further head behind.

Hannon said: "She's a very decent filly. She wasn't born until May 19 (2009), but by god she's quick.

"I thought the horse this side was going to catch us."

The trainer's son and assistant Richard Hannon junior said: "She worked very well last week. She hadn't come off the bridle in her races but she had a lot more on her plate today.

"I thought she had a bit too much on her plate, but she's won it well.

"We'll give her a break now and have a look at the Lowther at York and maybe the Cheveley Park, something like that."

Hughes added: "I rode her in Newbury where she was like a yo-yo going round the ring and I don't know why but she didn't give me a good ride.

"I thought she was just a little, fast two-year-old, but we worked her since and she worked really well.

"She's a little superstar. I couldn't believe the way she walked the ring today - she was like an old chaser.

"I walked her out on to the track and I had to give her two smacks to canter on, usually you're trying to hold them back.

"I jumped very awkwardly and it took me 100 yards to get her balanced, but she really stuck her head out well to the line.

"She's tiny and I felt like a big octopus on her! I don't do her justice."