Jockey Suraj to lead Asian team at the iconic Ascot

Bengaluru: On the hallowed turf of Ascot Racecourse, where the Shergar Cup is held each year, Mallesh Narredu rode on the track as his awe-struck nephew watched from the stands in 2009. 

Come August 9, the then 24-year-old Suraj Narredu, who has since evolved into one of India’s top jockeys, will be cheered on by his now retired rider-turned-trainer uncle at the same venue located in Ascot, Berkshire, about 25 miles west of London. 

For the Narredu’s, a family invested in horse racing for three generations, Suraj becoming the only Indian after Mallesh to be picked to represent the country at the prestigious event is another feather in their decorated cap. 

“It has always been one of my dreams to ride at that particular race course,” the 40-year-old Suraj tells DH.

“This track to a jockey is like the Lord’s for a cricketer or the Wimbledon for a tennis player. The world’s best talent is riding against me and with me on that particular day and it’ll be a fabulous jockey room environment,” he says while adding that he is eager to interact and ride with good friend Karis Teetan of Mauritius and the legendary Hugh Bowman of Australia. 

Suraj will not only be the only Indian among the 12 jockeys from all over the world (divided into four teams of three jockeys each), but he will also be leading Team Asia comprising two top Japanese riders. 

“Everything I have done in the last three months has been a lead-up to this event. Apart from setting a target to be my fittest self, I consciously tried to ride only a few races and ride the good horses. This was to eliminate the risk of injury and to avoid mishaps that happen during racing or not to incur any suspensions,” says the jockey who will feature in five out of the six races at the Shergar Cup. 

But how is he handling the nerves of experiencing the biggest moment of his riding life? 

For Suraj, with more than 2500 wins and four Indian Derby titles in his two decade-old career, knowledge of the new track, familiarisation with the horses and understanding the pace of the race are the essentials in his checklist as soon as he lands in the United Kingdom on August 5 - four days prior to the competition.

Suraj Narredu.

“There is going to be a little bit of nervousness especially when I first walk onto the track,” he concedes. “But I think I have now matured enough to not let it affect me. I’ll have a little bit of butterflies in my stomach before I go for the first ride. But I think as soon as I’m on the horse everything will fall into place.

“This is for the Indian racing fraternity and I hope to win at least one race for the country, you know? That is going to be a big thing.”