RICHARD Hannon’s Mehmas, busy right through the season and a credit to his trainer, took the Group 2 Qatar Richmond Stakes in the gamest possible fashion.

He kept on strongly for Frankie Dettori to hold the widely-touted Godolphin youngster Blue Point by a neck.

Aidan O’Brien’s Intelligence Cross was a little disappointing and finished three lengths adrift of the front two in a four-runner contest.

Blue Point, who won by a remarkable 11 lengths at Doncaster last time, established a narrow lead, but Mehmas challenged a furlong out and went on. Possibly still a little green, Blue Point twice seemed about to draw level again but could not quite make it. He remains a colt of considerable potential.

“I love this horse,” Hannon said of the 7/2 winner. “He is very tough and has done nothing wrong all year. Sheikh Joaan (of Al Shaqab Racing) likes him and I love him even more.

“We’ll utilise him this year as a two-year-old and probably think either about the Prix Morny or the National Stakes at the Curragh. He’s carried a 3lb penalty today and been on the go all year. I think maybe this will be his year rather than next year, but I wouldn’t put anything beyond him. We need to win a Group 1 with him and after that we’ll have to see.”

Mehmas was paying a considerable compliment to O’Brien’s Caravaggio, who beat him comfortably enough in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He was also edging Dettori closer to his 3,000th career success. This battling victory took him on to 2,995.