Italo Pinheiro and Gabriel Graciani sorted 34 head in four rounds and 227.40 seconds to win the Graduated Rookie #6 and $10,406 at the 2026 Cinch RSNC World Finals.
For Graciani, ranch sorting in Brazil taught him one style of competition. Winning a Cinch RSNC World Championship required another.
Learning a Different Game
Although Graciani brought years of ranch sorting experience from Brazil before relocating to Weatherford, Texas, he said the biggest adjustment wasn’t learning the rules—it was learning the cattle.
“In Brazil, we run for time, like 20 seconds or 30 seconds,” Graciani said. “The cattle are easier most of the time. Here, especially at the World Finals, the cattle are tougher.”
Success, he discovered, wasn’t determined by speed alone. It came from reading the herd, adapting to what the cattle presented, and making the right decisions as the run unfolded.
“You win on your brain,” Graciani said. “You need to play smart and figure it out in the middle of the run.”
That approach became especially important in the championship round.
Pinheiro, also from Brazil, now claims Lorena, Texas, as his hometown. He said the pair entered the championship round expecting they’d need to sort all 10 head to secure the title. But as the final team to compete, they watched the leaderboard change before entering the arena.
“Our plan for the final round was to take it easy and collect all 10 cows,” Pinheiro said. “When Eric Turner totaled 33 cows, we only needed five cows to become Champions.”
The thrill of the game can challenge the best laid plans, though, and Graciani had to keep his partner on track.
“I knew we just needed five cows to win, but my partner didn’t,” Graciani said with a laugh. “When we got the fifth cow, he was still going, and I was screaming, ‘Wait!’”
Once the buzzer sounded, Graciani knew they had accomplished what they came to Fort Worth to do.
“It felt great,” he said. “It’s a dream coming true. Being from Brazil and winning here in the U.S., I think it’s a bigger challenge, but the reward is way better.”
Teammates by Chance
Pinheiro and Graciani didn’t arrive at the World Finals planning to compete together.
After meeting during the event, they realized they could enter the Graduated Rookie #6 Handicap as teammates.
“He asked if I wanted to run,” Graciani said. “I said, ‘Yeah, sure.’ It all worked out.”
Pinheiro said Graciani’s experience helped the newly formed team settle in quickly.
“My partner is very focused and experienced,” Pinheiro said. “He’s always talking to me about the cattle and the competitors. He’s very intelligent.”
The Mares Behind the Win
Both riders credited the mares they rode for giving them the confidence to execute their plan.
Graciani competed aboard a borrowed mare named Shortys Gypsy (Haidas Shorty x Playboys Gypsy Girl) owned by friend Ponciano Sanchez.
“She gives 100% every time,” Graciani said. “If you tell her to go cut a cow, she’s going to go.”
Pinheiro rode Im Naturally Tuff (Brother Tuff Wood x Metallic Smooch), a mare owned by his boss, Cleber Feijo of Feijo Horse Farm, where Pinheiro works.
“She is very calm,” Pinheiro said. “She has agility, courage and faces the cattle without any fear. She has a huge heart.”
The Journey Pays Off
Both riders joined RSNC in 2026, just a few months ahead of the World Finals.
“I’m very happy because I fulfilled my dream of being a World Champion,” Pinheiro said.
For Graciani, it proved the skills he developed in Brazil could carry him to the top of the sport in the United States.
Graduated Rookie #6 Handicap — 2026 World Finals Champions
| Champions | Italo Pinheiro (Lorena, Texas) & Gabriel Graciani (Weatherford, Texas) |
| Winning run | 227.40 on 34 head |
| First-place payout | $10,406 |
| Total class payout | $46,126 |
Top 10 Payouts
| Place | Team | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italo Pinheiro / Gabriel Graciani | $10,406 |
| 2 | Waynard Schmidt / Eric Turner | $9,742 |
| 3 | Clara Mas / Shyla Narachi | $6,762 |
| 4 | Stacy Howard / Desiree Garrett | $5,062 |
| 5 | Mark Lindsey / Jake Lindsey | $3,538 |
| 6 | Amador Gonzales / Sydney Gonzales | $2,914 |
| 7 | Alvaro Escalona / Jay Hale | $2,498 |
| 8 | Alberto Villalon / Haley Rankin | $2,082 |
| 9 | Theresa Guidry / Bailey Lanham | $1,666 |
| 10 | Jesse Stanfill / Shelby Wright | $1,456 |
