Brazil's biggest race, the Grande Premio Brasil, came close to ending in disaster for jockey Leandro Henrique, who started celebrating 50 yards out - only to miss a runner flying home on his inside.
In a moment akin to Mickael Barzalona's Pour Moi Derby celebration in 2011, the rider stood up in his irons aboard Sinzel in the local Group 1 at Gavea, Rio de Janeiro, and saluted the crowd in the grandstands as the line approached.
However, 18-1 shot Valparaiso, who had been a length behind when Henrique began to celebrate, made rapid late ground on the inside and was inches away from snatching victory as the runners hit the line. The winning margin was a nose.
It ended up a bunched finish as favourite Ethereum and Mc Arrocha edged closer in the final stages and were just a neck and half a length further behind.
Unbelievable! 😲
- Idol Horse (@idolhorsedotcom) June 22, 2025
Leandro Henrique started celebrating at the 50m mark in Brazil's biggest race, the G1 Grande Premio Brasil - not knowing that there was a horse finishing fast on his inside! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/tXjNDgXt6U
The Grande Premio Brasil has been run for close to a century and Brazilian-born rider Joao Moreira had travelled to ride in the race, having finished second at Royal Ascot aboard Satono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Saturday. He finished seventh on Obataye.
The race is staged at Brazil's largest racecourse, the Hipodromo de Gavea, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year having been designed as a replica of the old Longchamp in France. It is also one of its country's largest training centres with 1,000 horses trained there.
How it unfolded
Racing Post
https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/watch-jockey-almost-loses-brazils-biggest-race-after-celebrating-too-soon-in-shades-of-mickael-barzalona-on-pour-moi-aRhUz6o4HTzn/
