Suraj Narredu secures first JRA victory at Sapporo

Jockey Suraj Narredu recorded his first Japan Racing Association (JRA) victory at Sapporo Racecourse in Japan on Saturday, August 22, 2026, winning the 2,600m three-year-old maiden race. The Japanese commentator referred to Suraj as "India’s Magic Man" while calling the race.

Making his first appearance on Japanese soil, Narredu partnered Fier Chanter, trained by Kensuke Ogura, to the win in the sixth race on the opening day of his stint at Sapporo. Earlier on the card he finished fourth aboard Mont Royal in the third race (1,700m), which was his maiden event in Japan.

In the two races of the 2026 World All-Star Jockeys Championship held on Saturday, Narredu’s results earned him a total of 10 points, placing him ninth in the standings after the opening day’s two legs.

The four-race championship brings together riders from around the globe and is contested over different distances and surfaces, with points awarded according to finishing positions. Saturday’s first two legs were run over 1,200m and 2,000m on turf.

The remaining two races are scheduled for Sunday, August 23, over 1,700m on dirt and 1,800m on turf. Narredu is scheduled to have four rides at Sapporo on Sunday, partnering Trigonic, Cuthbert Tesoro, Itsumo Nikoniko and Bene Spira, with his final two rides coming in the concluding legs of the World All-Star Jockeys Championship.

Narredu’s next appearances at Sapporo will be on Sunday, August 23, when he takes those four mounts and competes in the remaining two legs of the World All-Star Jockeys Championship.