MEATH’s Cian O’Connor stormed to victory in the 1.45m speed class at the five-star Global Champions Tour final in Doha, Qatar, last weekend after a blistering round with the nine-year-old gelding Callisto.

It was a good week for O’Connor and his wife Ruth, who celebrated the birth of their second child, Cara Louise, days earlier and the couple had further cause for celebration when the Meath-based rider saw off a 35 strong startlist to take the winner’s prize of just over €8,000.

“Callisto has a big stride and I tried to use it being quick from fence one to two. I got a good turn-back to fence four and took a bit of a chance down to fence nine but he jumped it really well. I just played to his strengths, he is careful and can go quick. I have had a great week, Ruth and Cara Louise and doing very well.”

Bassem Mohammed was denied a home win, crossing the line almost two seconds slower with Argelith Squid to take runner-up spot, while Tipperary’s Denis Lynch finished in 10th place with Campino.

Course designer Uliano Vezzani set a tough but fair course for the top riders in the world, with a 1.45m speed class offering up a prize purse of €25,000.

Faults came from all over the course, with Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Funky Fred rolling the first and last poles, and Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano picking up 12 faults with Caspar.

Germany’s Andreas Kreuzer was the first to set the pace with the nine-year-old dark chesnut Calvilot with a clear in 73.43 seconds and held the lead as poles fell. Qatari sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani looked set for a home turf win after a blinding round with grey stallion Imperio Egipcio Milton rocketed him to the lead with a fast and furious time of 69.71. Others tried but failed to surpass the Qatari rider’s time, until Cian O’Conner and Callisto put in a phenomenal time of 63.11, throwing down the gauntlet to the rest.

Young American talent Emily Moffitt looked to be the only challenger to come close, with an exceptional round. Making daring turns with Cassius Clay, she shaved valuable seconds from the clock, crossing the line in 65.11 - exactly two seconds off Cian’s time.

German world number one Christian Ahlmann and Caribis Z finished over two seconds behind in 68.60. Bassem Hassan Mohammed finished just shy of Cian’s time in 63.28.