Francisco Leandro Bound for the World All-Star Jockeys in Sapporo
- Turf Diario
- hace 1 hora
- 3 Min. de lectura
The Brazilian Jockey Will Take Part in This Weekend’s Jockeys’ Tournament in Japan Alongside Other Riding Stars
By Diego H. Mitagstein
It’s Time: Francisco Leandro Set for World All Star Jockeys Debut in Japan
The wait is over. In the early hours of Saturday (Argentina time), the 2025 World All Star Jockeys will get underway at Sapporo Racecourse in Japan, with a South America-based rider taking part for the very first time: Brazilian ace Francisco Leandro, the longtime leading jockey in Argentina.
The South American standout will line up alongside some of the world’s biggest names, including Alexis Badel (Hong Kong), Thore Hammer-Hansen (Germany), Karis Teetan (Hong Kong), Cristian Torres (United States), Craig Williams (Australia), and French-based rider Christophe Clement, as well as local stars Yutaka Take, Ryusei Sakai, Yuichi Kitamura, Masashige Honda, Keita Tosaki, Norihiro Yokoyama, and Takeshi Yokoyama.
The competition will be decided over four races, with points determining the overall champion. Prize money will be $20,000 to the winner, $13,330 to the runner-up, and $6,670 to third, with each ride also earning $3,330 plus standard commissions.
Leandro is booked for four mounts Saturday and another five Sunday. The Brazilian expressed both gratitude and excitement for the opportunity:
“I’m extremely thankful for the invitation to come to Japan for the first time. I’m very happy and I hope it will be a wonderful event for both the jockeys and the fans. I’ve never ridden here, so I’m very excited. I want to give my best.”
When asked about his riding style, he added:
“I always ride with respect for the horse. If I can keep a horse comfortable in rhythm, I think it will respond better in the stretch—that’s my way. I’ve never competed in Asia, but I do have experience in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. I didn’t talk to or receive advice from Joao Moreira, but I’ve always admired him greatly—he’s been my idol since I started. Turf or dirt, it depends on the horse, but personally I prefer turf.”
Moreira (2015 and 2023) and Eurico da Silva (2017) both lifted the trophy in past editions, though neither was based in South America at the time.
In Saturday’s first leg of the World All Star Jockeys, a turf maiden over 1200 meters, Leandro will partner Maru Piru(Mikki Isle), quoted at 17.5/1. In the second leg, a 2000-meter turf event, he will ride Sumi (Leontes), listed at 11/1.
On Sunday, his assignments include Muffin (Mikki Isle) in a 1700-meter dirt allowance, where expectations are modest, before closing out with Lord Mannheim (Lord Kanaloa) in an 1800-meter turf allowance—his strongest chance, having finished runner-up over the same course and distance last out.
First held in 1987, the World All Star Jockeys has seen the likes of Cash Asmussen, Yutaka Take, Jerry Bailey, Olivier Peslier, Ioritz Mendizabal, Ryan Moore, Johnny Murtagh, Zac Purton, Mirco Demuro, Craig Williams, and Richard Hughes among its past champions.
Can Leandro add his name to that illustrious roll? The numbers suggest it will be a formidable task, but in racing, anything can happen. Just by competing, he has already made history. For South American racing, his participation is a point of pride on the global stage.
