Francisco Leandro to Base in Dubai Under Contract with Sky Racing

The Brazilian-born jockey, currently leading the standings in Argentina, will ride under contract with Sky Racing, working for trainers Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga, among others. He is scheduled to travel in early November

Francisco Leandro and a Major Opportunity for His Career / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

What had been anticipated in recent weeks became official Tuesday: Francisco Leandro, the Brazilian-born rider who has dominated the jockey standings in Argentina in recent years, will head to the United Arab Emirates in early November to ride the season there as first-call rider for Sky Racing.

“This is a wonderful opportunity and the right time to give it a try,” said Leandro. “I am very happy and grateful to Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga, who were the ones negotiating to make this possible. I also want to especially thank Stud Las Monjitas for allowing me to take this chance and go after a dream that, hopefully, will work out in the best possible way.”

Sky Racing currently has nine horses in training with Cintra and Olascoaga, along with several others in the care of Bhupat Seemar, Bin Harmash and Mussabah Al Muhairi, giving Leandrinho plenty of opportunities in Dubai, beyond additional mounts from other trainers and owners.

“For us, this is like a bombshell, a huge morale boost,” Olascoaga commented. “It’s like when Pablo Falero came in his time. Having a jockey of this caliber is a massive contribution for our team and for Tolu’s operation. It’s not every day you can work with a rider of this level.”

From Sky Racing, the team released a statement: “We are delighted to announce that the renowned Brazilian jockey Francisco Leandro will bring his talent, experience, and professionalism to Dubai. He will be based at Grandstand Stables and will also travel to Libya for the major meetings at Al Watan Racecourse. We are confident that his arrival will strengthen Sky Racing’s ambitions to make a mark on Dubai’s top racing scene.”

After a successful career in his native São Paulo, Leandro relocated to Argentina in 2013 and has since ridden 4,010 winners, including 343 stakes, 194 graded, and 51 Grade 1 victories, maintaining a striking win percentage close to 20%.

Named Argentina’s Jockey of the Year in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as multiple-time recipient of the Premio Olimpia de Plata, Leandrinho has won nearly every major race on the Argentine calendar, with the exception of the G1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini. Among his most notable mounts are Miriñaque (Hurricane Cat), Strategos (Zensational), Halo Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday), Emotion Orpen (Orpen), and Subsanador (Fortify).

“It’s like with Mastantuono,” said Tomás Fernández Llanos of Stud Las Monjitas, which had Leandro under contract and will send three horses—Natan (Señor Candy), Satu (Catcher In the Rye), and Nam Phirk (Hofburg)—to Meydan this season with Cintra and Olascoaga. “This is the best for him, and I’m glad because he deserves it. He’s an international-level jockey, and this step forward in his career was always going to come.”

Recently a participant in the World All-Star Jockeys in Sapporo, Japan, Leandro has already ridden several times at Meydan, including on the Dubai World Cup card.

Argentina will no doubt miss the rider who has been its dominant force in recent years, following in the footsteps of legends such as Falero, Jacinto Herrera, and Jorge Valdivieso. But, as Fernández Llanos summed it up, it was only a matter of time before his immense talent crossed borders.

Now bound for Dubai, Leandrinho carries with him a bag full of dreams—and a golden opportunity ahead. With his ability, nothing seems out of reach.