by Michael Burns

Three-year-old Jeune-Turc posted a breakthrough victory after a ground-saving trip in the $170,084 Grande Premio Sao Paulo–Rede Globo 2008 (Brz-G1), the highlight of Sao Paulo’s most prestigious racing event on Sunday at Hipodromo Cidade Jardim.

Under vigorous urging from Tiago Josue Pereira, the Know Heights (Ire) colt gained command with two furlongs remaining and inched away late to prevail by three-quarters of a length over fast-closing Naperon. Grande Premio Derby Paulista (Brz-G1) (Brazilian Derby) runner-up Biologo was another neck back in third in the 18-horse field.

Trained by Venancio Nahid, Jeune-Turc covered 2,400 meters (11.93 furlongs) on turf rated as soft in 2:27.10 for his first group stakes victory and third win overall in 11 starts.

Campaigned by Stud Ced, a partnership that includes South American breeder Goncalo Torrealba, Jeune-Turc entered off a fourth-place finish in the Grande Premio Cruzeiro do Sul (Brz-G1) (Rio de Janeiro’s Derby) on April 13.

Bred in Brazil by Mario Moglia’s Haras Fronteira, breeder of 2004 Brazilian Horse of the Year and three-time Grade 1 winner Pico Central (Brz), Jeune-Turc is out of the Machiavellian mare Creature Du Ciel.

Uigur, a three-year-old Astor Place colt, rallied gamely to beat Colorado Sam by a 1 ¼ lengths in the Grande Premio Presidente da Republica – Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (Brz-G1).

Uigur covered 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:33.68 for his first stakes victory. He is trained in Campinas by Antonio Luiz Cintra.

As expected, highly regarded colts Skypilot and Fluke led a one-two finish in the Grande Premio Juliano Martins (Brz-G1). Skypilot, a two-year-old Put It Back colt, led at every point of call to score by 1 ¼ lengths over favored Fluke.

Skypilot completed 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:33.39 to remain unbeaten in four career starts for owner-breeder Julio Bozano’s Haras Santa Maria de Araras.

Dalto Duarte, jockey of runner-up Fluke, presented a claim of foul against the winner for interference in the stretch, but track stewards disallowed the claim.

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent