Team Asia took the 2025 Shergar Cup after a thrilling final race. Narredu, the rider of winner Fireblade, was joined by Ryusei Sakai and Mirai Iwata as they saw off Europe by a single point
A jockey who was inspired to get into horse racing by Frankie Dettori has emulated him by starring at Ascot.
Suraj Narredu watched the sporting celebrity ride all seven winners around the track in 1996 – and wanted to try his luck in the saddle.
The 40-year-old learned his trade and has since become one of India’s most decorated riders, reaching 1,000 wins by the age of 25 – and notched his 2,000th in 2019.
Like Dettori, Narredu has competed all over the world, in places like Dubai, Australia and the USA.
But it was one of his most special career moments when he was called up to captain Team Asia at the Shergar Cup, an event around the circuit where Dettori made worldwide headlines.
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As well as the ‘Magnificent Seven’, the Italian took the Ascot Gold Cup on nine occasions and his victories at its showpiece royal meeting in June number 81.
Narredu was so thrilled when Fireblade (13-2) galloped to victory in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers that he performed his idol’s signature move, the flying dismount, in front of the crowd.
The performance helped him and teammates Ryusei Sakai and Mirai Iwata to pip Europe by just a point in a thrilling conclusion.
“The flying dismount was definitely a tribute to my hero,” said Narredu. “It is a dream come true to do something like this over here. “On Thursday I came to have a picture here without a horse. I wanted to be in this winner’s enclosure.
‘‘All the effort we have put in in the last three or four months with the Shergar Cup in mind has paid off today. Thanks to all the prayers and blessings of India, we have done it.’’
Narredu’s uncle Malesh, who was part of the 2009 Shergar Cup, said: ‘‘He has worked hard on his fitness coming into the Shergar Cup. He wanted to be at his best. I could see him working really hard at home and it has paid off.”
Team Asia – new for this year’s competition after replacing the Ladies side – took two of the six races and picked up a crucial second place in the finale to secure the trophy.
‘‘I am absolutely delighted,” Narredu added. “To win the Shergar Cup on my debut is the icing on the cake after my winner.”
