ASCOT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Jockey Suraj Narredu reacts after riding Fireblade to win the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers during the at Ascot Racecourse on August 09, 2025 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images) India’s top jockey Suraj Narredu created history by becoming the first-ever Indian to register a win at the iconic Ascot (London) when he guided the three-member Team Asia to a scintillating victory in the Shergar Cup, a four-team horse racing competition, on Saturday evening.Suraj-led Team Asia — making its debut this year after replacing the Ladies’ team — secured victory in two of the six races and claimed a decisive second place in a nail-biting final race, edging past Europe by just one point. Team Asia accumulated 68 points to beat Team Europe (67). Team Great Britain and Ireland were third on 62, ahead of the Rest of the World on 55. The Rest of the World’s Hugh Bowman won the Silver Saddle for the best jockey of the day.“It’s an incredible victory and a dream come true,” Suraj, who steered Fireblade to victory in the Shergar Cup Stayers, told TOI . “I’m happy that the huge effort I put in before coming here as preparation for this great contest paid off. I’d like to congratulate my teammates, both the Japanese jockeys, who played their part in getting us the points we needed. It’s a team format, and we were able to pull it off in our first rides at Ascot.”Suraj hoped that this magical victory at such a prestigious global event will get him the recognition he deserves. “I hope now that other racing jurisdictions like Hong Kong and Japan will take note of this, and I’ll get another chance to showcase my talent there. That would really be a dream come true as well,” said the man with four Indian Derby crowns under his belt, along with more than 2,400 victories and around 110 classics across various Indian racing centres.
