Fairway's Turf Online

Pinheiro lands first Group 1 with Great ride

SINGAPORE: Oct 14, 2023

HONGKONG GREAT holds on to beat LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO in the Queen
Elizabeth II Cup - SLTC photo

Bernardo Pinheiro bid farewell to Singapore in a blaze of glory at Kranji here today.

In his final ride before heading to Dubai, the Brazilian jockey landed his first Group win in Singapore when he piloted HONGKONG GREAT to an upset win in the S$300,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 1800m.

Pinheiro adopted daring tactics on the 2022 Singapore Gold Cup winner, taking the lead, then made a breakaway of some 10 lengths at the half way stage.

HONGKONG GREAT was still some eight lengths clear of the rest of the field headed by odds-ob favourite LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO at the top of the straight but he began to tire in the final 200m. That's when LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO began to pick up speed and close the gap stride by stride.

In one of the biggest upsets in recent times, HONGKONG GREAT just held on to win by a neck to pay $102 for a win. The Chilean gelding covered the trip in 1min 46.60, just 0.29 second outside the course record set by SUPERB in 2010.

"Since 2019, I dreamed to win a Group 1 (race) here (Singapore) and today, it came true," said an emotional Pinheiro.

"When I came over in April this year, (trainer) Ricardo (Le Grange) gave me this horse and even if he ran in 1200m races (then), I accepted the ride because something told me that he would be the one to give me my Group 1 (win).

"Today – my last day and the last ride before I leave – it just happened. I’m lucky the pace was in my favour. The plan went through. I just thank God."

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	PROSPEROUS RETURN 2022 STAKES
1	CLASS 5 - 1200M
2	DR KARDO	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	1
	(7 b.a.g Not A Single Doubt - Luellen by Danzero)
14	Benbo	HW Tan	I Saifudin	2
12	River Dragon	J Ong	M Akmazani	3
1	City Gold Galaxy	D Kok	Cylde Leck	4

2	HARD TOO THINK 2021 STAKES
2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
7	KUNGFU HERO	J Tan	B Pinheiro	1
	(3 b.a.g Press Statement - Rich Pickings by I Am Invincible)
1	Gun	D Logan	R Stewart	2
10	October	S Gray	S Shafrizal	3
4	Super Baby	J Tan	M Akmazani	4

3	TOP KNIGHT 2020 STAKES
3	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M
11	MY BOSS	J Ong	I Amirul	1
	(8 b.nz.g Rock 'N' Pop - Be Fabulous by Pins)
4	Big Gay	J Tan	M Lerner	2
3	Crown Dancing	R Lim	M Nunes	3
6	Cizen Lucky	J Tan	B Pinheiro	4

4	I'M INCREDIBLE 2019 STAKES
4	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M
3	MT NISEKO	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	1
	(4 b.a.g I Am Invincible - Rioghan by Snitzel)
6	City Gold Telecom	D Kok	M Nunes	2
2	Charminton	D Logan	F Yusoff	3
9	From The Navy	S Baertschiger	M Zaki	4

5	DEBT COLLECTOR 2018 STAKES
5	CLASS 5 - 1600M
5	CITIZEN	S Burridge	CC Wong	1
	(5 ch.a.g Street Boss - Abdrioli by Stryker)
9	Tavi Will Do	S Gray	B Queiroz	2
10	Atlas	S Baertschiger	M Kellady	3
11	Schneider	HW Tan	TH Koh	4

6	QUECHUA 2017 STAKES
6	CLASS 4 - 1800M
6	PRIORITIZE	S Gray	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(5 br.nz.g Proisir - Sororia by Iffraaj)
4	Winning Stride	S Burridge	CC Wong	2
1	King Of Sixty-One	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	3
8	Smart Star	D Kok	T Krisna	4

7	LAUGHING GRAVY 2016 STAKES
7	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M
2	SMOKE AND MIRRORS	J Ong	TH Koh	1
	(7 b.nz.g Ocean Park - Starry by O'Reilly)
7	God's Gift	D Logan	S Jamil	2
8	My Determination	S Burridge	WH Kok	3
12	Sayonara	R Le Grange	B Pinheiro	4

8	STEPITUP 2015 STAKES
8	CLASS 3 - 1800M
6	MAXIMA	R Le Grange	V Duric	1
	(6 ch.ger.g Ivawood - Coco Demure by Titus Livius)
5	Raising Sixty-One	T Fitzsimmons	B Queiroz	2
3	Real Efecto	D Kok	M Nunes	3
4	Trumpy	T Fitzsimmons	WH Kok	4

9	WILD GEESE 2014 STAKES
9	NOVICE (SW) - 1200M
4	LIM'S SALTORO	D Meagher	M Lerner	1
	(4 b.nz.g Shamexpress - Lamplighter by Fastnet Rock)
11	Silo	S Crutchley	B Pinheiro	2
10	Hasten	S Burridge	WH Kok	3
1	Black Storm	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	4

10	BETTER LIFE 2013 STAKES
10	CLASS 2 - 1400M
11	DREAM ALLIANCE	T Fitzsimmons	B Queiroz	1
	(5 b.a.g Into Mischief - Russian Moon by Malibu Moon)
1	Super Salute	R Lim	M Nunes	2
2	Kharisma	S Gray	M Lerner	3
7	So Hi Class	J Ong	TH Koh	4

11	QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP
11	SINGAPORWE GROUP 1 (WFA) - 1800M
2	HONGKONG GREAT	R Le Grange	B Pinheiro	1
	(8 b.chi.g Lookin At Lucky - La Sinverguennza by Scat Daddy)
1	Lim's Kosciuszko	D Meagher	CC Wong	2
4	Invincible Tycoon	S Burridge	M Lerner	3
9	Relentless	T Fitzsimmons	R Stewart	4

12	WAIKATO 2912 STAKES
12	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M
1	KNIPPENBERG	D Logan	S Jamil	1
	(4 b.a.g I Am Invincible - Bed Fez by Red Ransom)
5	Main	S Burridge	M Nunes	2
2	Hurricane	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	3
11	Captain Singapore	R Lim	M Zaki	4