The Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes axis were celebrating again after Best Terms grimly held off the much-touted Shumoos in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The field went an unbelievable pace in the early stages and Martin Dwyer was soon niggling along on Shumoos with Hughes travelling sweeter on Best Terms, sent of at 12-1 despite winning her previous victories.
It looked as if Shumoos was hitting top gear inside the final furlong and that she would claim Hannon's youngster, but the winner held on gamely by a short head with just another head back to 100-1 shot Caledonia Lady, who could well have won in another few yards.
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."
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