Young Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz cannot complain with the way his first overseas stint has gone.

He hit the ground running with 28 winners from only 156 rides at his inaugural Singapore season in 2023, which he began only in July.

Unsurprisingly touted as champion material in 2024, he has lived up to the billing. He is tied with compatriot, five-time Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes on 24 winners, but sits on top of the pile on a countback for seconds.

But, with six months left before the last chapter of Singapore racing’s 182-year history is closed on Oct 5, there is one box still left unticked – a feature win at Kranji, the only racetrack he has ridden at outside Brazil.

A winner of several of his country’s elite races, mostly in Rio de Janeiro, including 14 at Group 1 level, the 22-year-old said it was not his be-all and end-all, but one could feel the itch, nonetheless.

“I’m very happy with the way things are going. I’m winning races and I’m leading with Manoel,” said Queiroz whose command of English has improved tremendously in the last few months.

“But I’d also like to win a Group race here before racing ends in October.

“I’ve ridden in about 10 feature races, and came close three times with three seconds. The closest was Dream Alliance’s second in last year’s Singapore Gold Cup.