Sinsel. (Hipodromo Da Gavea photo)
Son of Alpha Gains Automatic Berth into Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf for World Championships at Del Mar
Breeders’ Cup Release
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Stud Red Raffa’s homebred 3-year-old Sinsel (BRZ) powered to the lead inside the final three furlongs and held off Valparaiso (BRZ) by a nose to win Sunday’s Grande Premio Brasil (G1) at Hipodromo da Gavea in Rio De Janeiro. With this victory, Sinsel secured an automatic starting position into the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
A son of Travers Stakes (G1) winner Alpha, Sinsel, trained by Luiz Esteves and ridden by Leandro Henrique, completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:24.40 for his third win in six starts and his second Group 1 triumph. It was the sixth time that Esteves has saddled the winner of Brazil’s most important race.
As the 6-1 second choice in a 20-horse field, Sinsel broke well and steadied in comfortably off the rail in fourth place for the first mile, while Galo White (BRZ) set the pace with Bourgogne (BRZ) close behind. Sinsel ranged up five wide at the top of the stretch and passed a fading Galo White for the lead, while to his inside 18-1 Valparaiso and the 3-1 favorite Ethereum (BRZ) made determined charges to the wire but came up just short in a blanket finish. Ethereum finished third, followed by Mc Arrocha (BRZ) in fourth. Following the race, a jockey’s objection against the winner was disallowed.
SINSEL (3yoC – Alpha) wins the G1 GRANDE PREMIO BRAZIL and gets his ticket for the @BreedersCup Turf 2025, ridden by L. Henrique for trainer L. Esteves, 6th win of this trainer in the GP Brazil
— Agentes305 (@agentes305) June 22, 2025
SINSEL gana con susto el GP Brasil G1 2025 ya que a los metros finales el jockey se… pic.twitter.com/SmnSbLqutd
Sinsel’s previous top-level win came in the March 9 Franciso Eduardo e Linneo Eduardo de Paula Machado (G1) going 1 1/4 miles. Sinsel finished second in the April 6 Cruzeiro do Sul (G1) (Brazilian Derby) at 1 1/2 miles at Gavea in his previous start.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Sinsel start in the 1 1/2-mile Longines Breeders’ Turf. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of California to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winners must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 20 in order to receive the rewards.
At Gavea in Rio, Sinsel wins Grande Premio Brasil and gains free berth into Longines @BreedersCup Turf. pic.twitter.com/LiaqUdpnCN
— Jim Gluckson (@BCRacingguy) June 22, 2025
