Watch: jockey almost loses Brazil's biggest race after celebrating too soon in shades of Mickael Barzalona on Pour Moi

Brazil's biggest race, the Grande Premio Brasil, came close to ending in disaster for jockey Leandro Henrique, who started celebrating 50 yards out – only to miss a runner flying home on his inside.

In a moment akin to Mickael Barzalona's Pour Moi Derby celebration in 2011, the rider stood up in his irons aboard Sinzel in the local Group 1 at Gavea, Rio de Janeiro, and saluted the crowd in the grandstands as the line approached.

Mickael Barzalona celebrated before the winning line in the 2011 Derby and just held on aboard Pour MoiCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

However, 18-1 shot Valparaiso, who had been a length behind when Henrique began to celebrate, made rapid late ground on the inside and was inches away from snatching victory as the runners hit the line. The winning margin was a nose.

It ended up a bunched finish as favourite Ethereum and Mc Arrocha edged closer in the final stages and were just a neck and half a length further behind.

The Grande Premio Brasil has been run for close to a century and Brazilian-born rider Joao Moreira had travelled to ride in the race, having finished second at Royal Ascot aboard Satono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Saturday. He finished seventh on Obataye.

The race is staged at Brazil's largest racecourse, the Hipodromo de Gavea, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year having been designed as a replica of the old Longchamp in France. It is also one of its country's largest training centres with 1,000 horses trained there.

Mickael Barzalona celebrates his head success on Pour Moi in the Derby before crossing the lineCredit: Mark Cranham

Sinsel's victory, a sixth in the race for trainer Luiz Esteves, means he qualifies for a run in the $5 million (£3.72m) Breeders' Cup Turf where he could face potential high-class challengers such as Rebel's Romance.

How it unfolded

Sinzel and Leandro Henrique are in command as the runners pass the furlong poleCredit: At The Races

Leandro Henrique thinks he has the race in the bag on Sinzel and starts celebrating

Valparaiso (far side) finishes fast on the inside with Sinzel's rider still saluting the crowd

Leandro Henrique gets back into the drive position near the line and his blushes are spared with Sinzel just holding on

Photo-finish shows Sinzel (number 8) just held on

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