Suraj Narredu has made history in Japan as the first Indian jockey to win a victory at the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Narredu achieved the landmark at Sapporo Racecourse after guiding three-year-old Fier Chanter to victory, adding another great international milestone to an already decorated career.
Narredu achieved the historic win on August 21 in Japan, when he was on the eve of Japan's first-ever international race. The Indian jockey was one of six foreign riders selected for the World All-Star Jockeys (WASJ) held at the end of August 2026, which brings together the world's best riders of all disciplines at the top level. Narredu had only two mounts to be able to make an immediate impact because he was a novice at JRA.
Narredu partnered Fier Chanter over 2,600 metres and took a commanding ride on the sixth choice horse. The result was even more satisfying given the intensity of the race and the high level of players involved in the international event.
But the victory also came against a strong international presence. Narredu raced alongside jockeys from Australia, South Africa, France and Canada and Japan's most accomplished riders. So his victory was a watershed moment not only for his career but also for Indian horse racing.
Narredu later spoke about riding in Japan as a long-term dream and was happy to have achieved the feat in front of his family. He also mentioned the support of Indian fans who traveled to Japan and waved the Indian flag at the racecourse.
The JRA victory is the latest in a career that has already spanned more than two decades. Narredu became the first Indian jockey to win 2,500 career wins in 2026. He has also bagged more than 250 wins in the domestic graded-race and more than 100 classics in his career and is one of India's most successful jockeys.
Narredu has also won four Indian Derby titles and four Champion Jockey of the Year awards. Over the course of his career he has also competed in many major international racing venues including Australia, France, Dubai, Ireland, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius and the United States.
His international reputation received a boost in 2025 when he participated in the prestigious Shergar Cup at Ascot as part of Team Asia. Narredu won a race and Team Asia won the overall title. He returned to Ascot in 2026 as part of the Rest of the World Team and traveled to Japan for his JRA performance.
His selection for the 2026 World All-Star Jockeys was a major endorsement of his international horse racing standing. Only six overseas jockeys were selected for the prestigious competition, and Narredu would have to contend with some of the world's most recognized riders in Japan.
His victory at Sapporo is even more significant because of how quickly he did it. Narredu first started to work in Japan for the first time, and he won on just his second mount and on a horse that didn't stand out from all the other favorites to him in Japan. The fact is that he is very capable of adapting to a new environment and overcoming an elite field of racing as a result.
Narredu's accomplishment is a great breakthrough for Indian horse racing. Japan's racing industry is one of the most competitive and sophisticated in the world, so success at a JRA meeting is a great achievement for a jockey.
It is also a milestone in Narredu's international career. From Ascot to making a big impression at Sapporo for Indian racing, the jockey has taken the country's colors to some of the world's most prominent racing venues.
Narredu’s historic JRA victory adds another chapter to a career defined by milestones. He has already won 2,500 career wins and has a global record in Indian horse racing and his win in Japan gives Indian horse racing another shot in the arm. His victory on Fier Chanter will also help raise the visibility of Indian jockeys and talent on the global stage.
