Younger Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz can’t complain with the best way his first abroad stint has gone.
He hit the bottom working with 28 winners from solely 156 rides at his inaugural Singapore season in 2023, which he started solely in July.
Unsurprisingly touted as champion materials in 2024, he has lived as much as the billing. He’s tied with compatriot, five-time Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes on 24 winners, however sits on prime of the pile on a countback for seconds.
However, with six months left earlier than the final chapter of Singapore racing’s 182-year historical past is closed on Oct 5, there may be one field nonetheless left unticked – a characteristic win at Kranji, the one racetrack he has ridden at exterior Brazil.
A winner of a number of of his nation’s elite races, principally in Rio de Janeiro, together with 14 at Group 1 degree, the 22-year-old mentioned it was not his be-all and end-all, however one may really feel the itch, nonetheless.
“I’m very pleased with the best way issues are going. I’m successful races and I’m main with Manoel,” mentioned Queiroz whose command of English has improved tremendously in the previous couple of months.
“However I’d additionally prefer to win a Group race right here earlier than racing ends in October.
“I’ve ridden in about 10 characteristic races, and got here shut 3 times with three seconds. The closest was Dream Alliance’s second in final yr’s Singapore Gold Cup.
“I believed I gained when he hit the entrance, however Lim’s Kosciuszko got here again; he’s a champion horse.
“I hope Ace Of Diamonds can provide me my first Group win in Singapore. I do know there are nonetheless 12 large races left, however it’d be good to get it out of the best way as quickly as attainable.
“I’d say Ace Of Diamonds could also be the most effective probability I’ve had to this point to win a Group race right here.
“He’s an excellent horse and he’s very properly. I’m very assured he’ll run properly tomorrow.”
With two seconds in as many rides, he has each purpose to be bullish about Ricardo Le Grange’s ward’s probabilities within the $110,000 Group 3 Singapore Three-12 months-Previous Dash (1,200m) on April 6.
“At his final begin (Feb 24), he ran second to an excellent horse in Makin in a Class 3 race,” he mentioned.
“That’s an excellent reference type as a result of Makin gained two extra races, one in Class 2. I believe Makin will run properly within the 4YO races.”
Queiroz mentioned he couldn’t inform if Ace Of Diamonds, a son of Swiss Ace, had not raced for six weeks.
“He gained a trial final week (March 26) and he has come out even higher after that trial,” he mentioned.
“I galloped him with Strike Gold on Tuesday. It was a straightforward exercise, he was good and contemporary.”
Le Grange’s second runner within the first three-year-old characteristic, Strike Gold, shall be ridden by the opposite Brazilian hoop, Carlos Henrique.
Apparently, Queiroz was aboard when the son of Iffraaj gained a Novice race (1,200m) on Jan 14, however it was the South African handler’s prerogative to separate the rides.
“Ricardo confirmed in January that Ace Of Diamonds was my 3YO journey till Could,” mentioned Queiroz.
“This horse can go to the opposite two 3YO races over 1,400m and 1,600m additionally, no drawback.”
The second 3YO contest is the Group 2 Singapore Three-12 months-Previous Basic (1,400m) on April 27, with the grand remaining the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1,600m) on Could 18.
Aside from Ace Of Diamonds, Queiroz holds a couple of different aces within the pack in that first April assembly.
“Lonhro Gold is my finest probability. Renzo is dropping in school and it’s a must to contemplate him,” he mentioned.
“Large Max can also be properly, however the barrier’s no good. Similar factor for Bransom, he’s been working properly, however he has 59kg and is drawn broad.
“I’ve gained solely as soon as for Stephen Grey, on February final yr. It’d be good to win yet one more for him earlier than he leaves, possibly Bransom.”
Not solely is the New Zealander the longest-standing expatriate coach at Kranji since Michael Clements left in September, however he’s additionally the final to name it quits from the pioneer batch of 19 trainers at Kranji’s launch in 2000.
After Grey, 59, bows out on April 27, he’ll proceed his coaching profession along with his father Kevin again house at Palmerston North.
manyan@sph.com.sg
