Francisco Leandro returns and will ride for Stud Las Monjitas starting in November

With Kevin Banegas parting ways with the stable, the Brazilian jockey will return to the country once his license with Japan's NAR concludes; in April 2027, he will return to the Land of the Rising Sun to ride for 4 months in the Japan Racing Association

The name Francisco Leandro will once again appear in Argentine race programs starting in November. And there will be a sense of reunion in reading those cards, in searching for his mounts, in the anticipation of seeing him step out onto the track. After taking his talent to Meydan in the United Arab Emirates and to Japan, one of the leading figures of national racing in recent years will return contracted by Stud Las Monjitas, where he had already served as official retained rider prior to his departure. It is the kind of news received with a smile, bringing back to our racing a jockey capable of making it better.

His joining will take place once his current license with Japan's National Association of Racing (NAR) circuit comes to an end. He will fill the vacancy left by Kevin Banegas, who rescinded his contract with the stable, kicking off a chapter that also allows a look beyond the upcoming meetings.

Leandro’s project unfolds in two phases. First, riding in Argentina from November through April. Then, returning to Japan to fulfill a license already granted by the Japan Racing Association (JRA), which will span April, May, June, and July. After that, the intention is to return and settle here permanently, with no new trips on the horizon unless a sufficiently compelling offer comes along to alter those plans.

There remains, then, one final international commitment ahead. But the horizon is once again set in the country where he built his immense prestige, where he became a benchmark for owners and trainers, and where the betting public learned to trust him.

In these days, Francisco Leandro is resting following an accident that occurred a couple of days ago in which he suffered a minor foot hairline fracture that will require a couple of weeks of recovery, before rejoining the NAR circuit, where he has already recorded several victories.

For years, Francisco made leading the jockeys' standings a habit. Staying at the top demands far more than a good season: it requires delivering every single afternoon, living with the pressure of the most anticipated mounts, and starting fresh after every defeat. That consistency was one of the hallmarks of his career in Argentina, establishing him among the finest riders in South America.

In the era of racing that followed the retirement of Pablo Falero and the departure of Jorge Ricardo, his figure assumed a special dimension. Leandro took up the mantle of that tradition of great jockeys who, beyond winning races, inspire a confidence hard to explain through numbers alone. His presence in the irons became a compelling argument; his name, an unavoidable reference point when analyzing any race card.

It was from that privileged position that he chose to step out into the world. He left behind the comfort of an environment he knew intimately to tackle new tracks, new routines, and new competition. The Dubai Racing Carnival at Meydan, in the United Arab Emirates, welcomed him under contract with Sky Racing, riding for trainers Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga. Later came Japan, with a first stint under a JRA license followed by his time in the NAR.

It was the decision of a professional who, even after achieving so much, sought to keep testing himself. Each destination presented a distinct challenge and broadened a career that already had its own place in the recent history of our tracks.

Now, Las Monjitas will serve as the starting point of his return. For the stable, hiring him means securing a rider of top-tier stature. For the Argentine racing community, the significance is broader: one of its iconic figures returns, a protagonist who elevates the competition and sparks interest every time he settles into the saddle.

There is also the bond with the fans. Those who follow the sport recognize his style, recall tight finishes, and hold onto victories that over time become part of their own trackside memories. Leandro belongs to that select group of jockeys who ceased being strangers long ago. Watching him compete abroad allowed fans to follow another leg of his journey; having him back close to home will bring a different kind of joy.

November will mark the initial reunion. Then will come the scheduled months in Japan and, if the plan holds, the return to stay. For now, the immediate certainty is enough: Francisco Leandro will ride in Argentina once again. And Argentine racing will regain one of those names that is sorely missed when absent.