Royal Ascot 2011 - Best Terms remains unbeaten with Queen Mary Stakes win, Richard Hughes wins 3
It was another glorifying day in the life of Best Terms, who kept his unbeaten record intact, at the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes.
It was hard work to keep the unbeaten record alive this time around but as always the great Richard Hughes was riding the bay filly and his formidable tactics proved to be the best among others.
Jockey Richard Hughes crossed a personal milestone, as he bagged his third victory of the Royal Ascot. He is back on the board for leading jockeys. Hughes’s ride wasn’t really famous because she had less starts before the Queen Mary Stakes and not a lot
of people knew too much about her but her unbeaten record did stand out.
Owned by R Barnett, Best Terms was up against the hot favourite Shumoos, a chestnut two year old filly, owned by, Fawzi Abdullah Naas, and trained by Brian Meehan. But she had to grind it out with Best Terms to win as a favourite.
A close battle indeed for the finishing line but Best Terms beat her to it and claimed the Queen Mary Stakes for herself and trainer, Richard Hannon.
It was field day for Richard Hannon, as he registered a second on the card, both with jockey, Richard Hughes. It was a three way affair, a battle among Shumoos, Best Terms, and, Caledonia Lady, the long shot.
On The Dark Side was the one, who seized the initiative in the beginning and galloped her way to the lead. There were no group of fillies as the race got underway and it was more a spread of horses on the green field. From front on, it was hard to decide,
who was in the lead, and, who is not.
The American raider, Gypsy Robin, was fired up for the challenge and gave On the Dark Side a run for her money as both ripped the race track apart with their blistering speed.
Best Terms took on both and owned them both when she passed them easy, the hot favourite, Shumoos, came in close but never stood a chance to break her down, as Hughes guided her in a very straight line.
The 100-to-1 outsider, Caledonia Lady, did make a race of it when she challenged Best Terms right at the end of the race but she fell short despite her heroic run and finished third.
Shumoos as always was in contention but couldn’t get a hold of Hughes’s filly and eventually finished second.
The youngest horse on the field won the Queen Mary Stakes and next up for the filly is Cheveley Park Stakes.
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