3 minute read

The Singapore Turf Club has granted a five-month visiting jockey’s licence to Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro for the period from 1 June to 31 October 2022.

Pinheiro would commence riding after the issuance of his work permit.

The 26-year-old jockey recently rode at the Singapore race meeting on 21 May 2022, scoring two winners and one third from three rides, including steering the Steven Burridge-trained Mr Malek to a third place in the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m).

He rode the Lee Freedman-trained Mr Clint at his three previous visits, finishing second twice in the Group 1 Singapore Derby in July and the Group 1 Raffles Cup in September 2019. The pair was unplaced in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in October that year.

Pinheiro ranked fourth on 24 winners in the United Arab Emirates Jockey's Premiership in the 2021/2022 season.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Pinheiro rode his first winner at his first day of riding in November 2013. He then quickly climbed through the Brazilian riding ranks on his way to two champion apprentice jockey titles in 2014 and 2015.

Among his career highlights are the Group 1 Emirates Championship with Harrab in Abu Dhabi in March this year, the Group 1 Grande Premio Margarida Polak Lara Taca de Prata with Macadamia in June 2021, the Triple Crown with filly Perfect Bullet in Brazil, including the Group 1 Grande Premio Taca de Cristal in June 2017, as well as two Group 2 and four Group 3 wins.

Across the Causeway, Pinheiro rode 33 winners from 128 rides between July 2019 and January 2020. He also claimed the Malaysian Group 1 Selangor Gold Cup (1600m) on the Shane Edwards-trained Truson in 2019 and three Listed races.

Well-travelled for his young age, Pinheiro has already recorded 521 wins to-date. Besides his haul in Malaysia, he also won 65 races over five stints in Dubai, a race in Uruguay in 2017 and one in Bahrain in 2018.

Pinheiro goes to scale at 53kgs.