Francisco Leandro finished fourth in the World All Star Jockeys, proudly upholding South American prestige
- Turf Diario
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Unlucky in the final two stages of the jockey tournament in Sapporo, the Brazilian still made his mark; German Thore Hammer Hansen claimed the title, defeating Australian Craig Williams
SAPPORO, Japón (Special for Turf Diario).- Francisco Leandro will never forget his time in Sapporo and his participation in the 2025 edition of the World All Star Jockeys. Beyond an excellent showing—posting a win and a fourth-place finish in the final standings—the Brazilian will cherish the warmth and respect he received from a crowd that played a crucial role in the success of the event, treating all participants like true stars.
A longtime leader of Argentina’s jockey rankings, Leandro served as a proud ambassador for South American racing, following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Joao Moreira and Eurico da Silva, who had previously claimed the tournament title.
Leandro began the second and final day in third place, hoping to translate his mounts into points, but luck was not on his side.
In the third race, contested over 1,700 meters on turf, he rode Muffin (Mikki Isle), one of the outsiders, who finished tenth, four lengths behind Bergun (Nadal)—ridden by German Thore Hammer Hansen, who was on the verge of securing the World All Star Jockeys crown.
“We hoped to get a good position from the start, but the filly was unstable in the gates and broke poorly. She was already under pressure before reaching the third turn,” Leandro said after the race.
In the final race, he fared slightly better but not enough, finishing sixth aboard Lord Mannheim (Lord Kanaloa), two lengths behind Pink Jin (Danon Ballade), who gave Australian Craig Williams the victory.
“We ran around seventh or eighth, as expected, but we lost ground entering the stretch and couldn’t find our top speed until the end. A track with a longer straight would suit us better,” Leandro noted.
Leandro, who also finished second in another conditional race that day, tallied 37 points—just three shy of the podium, which went to local Ryusei Sakai. Thore Hammer Hansen led the standings with 73 points, while Craig Williamsfinished with 66.
Hammer Hansen became the second German to win the World All Star Jockeys, following Andreas Suborics, who claimed the title in 2004 and 2006.
“I was amazed by the support from Japanese fans. It’s a great honor to compete in this event alongside some of the world’s best jockeys. It was wonderful to know, after the third race, that I had already secured the tournament win. When you get good horses, your chances of winning increase greatly. I love Japan and really hope to return soon,” said the tournament winner.
For Francisco Leandro, the event marked a milestone in his career. For South American racing, it was a source of pride to see one of its own competing on one of the sport’s biggest international stages.
