Mehmas repels big guns as Hannon protects territory

The betting market expected a straight Ballydoyle v Godolphin duel, forgetting that the Qatar Richmond Stakes is traditionally Hannon territory.

With five victories Richard Hannon snr jointly holds the record for most wins in the Group 2 race, and when he retired his son Richard landed the prize in his first year with a licence.

The career of this year's representative Mehmas was already five races old, and a 3lb penalty for winning the July Stakes made him appear vulnerable to Godolphin's impressive Doncaster winner Blue Point and Newmarket victim Intelligence Cross, now better off at the weights and representing Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O'Brien.