Francisco Leandro, present at the Saudi Cup meeting with Hans Andersen

The Brazilian jockey will ride the son of Frankel in the Saudi International Handicap, facing tough rivals, but with 54 1/2 kilos

Francisco Leandro will represent South America in the Saudi International Handicap / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (From a special correspondent).- For the first time since its inception, the Saudi Cup (G1) meeting at King Abdulaziz Racecourse will not have South American horses in any of its races. However, there will be several reasons from this part of the world to keep an eye on what happens there.

Next Friday, as part of the day where the International Jockey Challenge captures most of the attention, the brilliant Francisco Leandro will be present. He has been the leader of the statistics in Argentina for several years and is currently completing a season in Dubai as one of the regular riders for the team formed by Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga.

On that day, the Saudi International Handicap - Presented by Lucid will be run over 2100 meters on the turf, with a US$ 500,000 purse, for 3 or 4-year-olds (depending on the region of birth) representing countries that are not part of Part I of the International Cataloguing Standards.

Leandrinho will ride Hans Andersen, a son of Frankel formerly owned by Coolmore, who on European tracks won the 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes (G3) and finished second in the Futurity Stakes (G2), always under the tutelage of Aidan O'Brien.

Now presented by Veronika Jandová, the bay arrived at Meydan, in the United Arab Emirates, after a good campaign in Denmark. His actual trainer is William Segovia, an Argentine based in that country.

Winner of the Danish Jockey Club Cup (L) in Klampenborg, Hans Andersen will face several high-level rivals, such as Wait to Excel (Exceed and Excel), My Frankel (Frankel), Tawaareq (Shamardal), and Iradie (Sommerabend).

"I already rode the horse in Meydan and I know him. I worked him this Saturday on the turf and he is doing very well. The horses from Qatar and Bahrain are tough. Based on his pedigree, he should do very well; he is carrying a light weight of 54 1/2 kilos and has solid credentials. I arrive on Thursday night and will stay until after the Saudi Cupbecause on Sunday I’m riding in a stakes race at Jebel Ali," the Brazilian told Turf Diario.

Francisco Leandro has won 2 races in the United Arab Emirates, where he is not currently riding for Sky Racing, the outfit that had contracted him. It is not easy; the competition is fierce, especially coming from so far away, but with his talent, he continues to fight to make his mark and represent South America in the best possible way.