GAYE Kelleway enjoyed big win at Qatar’s Al Rayyan Racecourse at the weekend, when Global Spectrum, a son of Dutch Art, won the Group 2 Al Biddah Mile at the prestigious HH The Amir Sword Festival.

The winner is owned by Hong Kong-born venture capitalist Johnny Hon Sei-hoe and Kelleway has plans for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp in May.

“We are obviously very happy with the performance,” the owner said. “Gay is a very good trainer, I trust her ability. We have a few options now. We need some time to consider, but we have great hopes for this horse.”

The three-year-old was given a perfectly-timed ride by Gerald Mosse to edge past local runner Luchador in the dying strides to win by half a length.

Global Spectrum, who won his two previous starts on the all-weather, is held in high regard by Kelleway.

In the local Group 1, The Amir Trophy on the turf, Aidan O’Brien’s Hunting Horn and Ryan Moore could only finish third behind the French-trained French King and Royal Julius.

The winner was trained by Henri Pantall for Sheikh Abdulla Bin Khalifa Al Thani and ridden by Olivier Peslier.

HONG KONG

Pakistan Star on the move

STAR performer in Hong Kong, the enigmatic Pakistan Star has been transferred out of Tony Cruz’s stable. The six-year-old will join the stable of Paul O’Sullivan, who will take charge of a top-level horse for the first time since his star sprinter Aerovelocity retired in 2017.

A shattered Tony Cruz said he was shocked by the departure of his popular gelding.

Cruz, who said he wasn’t directly informed by the owner, Kerm Din, wished new trainer Paul O’Sullivan well with the dual Group 1 winner who had struggled to reach his heights this season.

“I wish them good luck, that’s it because I did my best, he wasn’t an easy horse to handle in the beginning, he was full of bad habits,” he said. “I wish them the best because we all liked this horse very much.”

Pakistan Star became an internet sensation after he stormed home from a long last in his first two starts to win, before going on to run second in the 2017 Hong Kong Derby.

Pakistan Star has had many riders and won the Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup last April under William Buick but failed to perform to his best this winter.