Suraj Narredu to Captain Team Asia at 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup – A Historic First for Indian Horse Racing
In a groundbreaking moment for Indian horse racing, Suraj Narredu will become the first Indian jockey to captain a team at the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, scheduled for Saturday, 9th August 2025 at Ascot Racecourse. Narredu leads the newly-formed Asia team, marking a milestone in his illustrious career and a proud moment for Indian racing on the global stage.
The 2025 edition of the Shergar Cup brings a refreshing shift in format, replacing the long-standing Ladies team with the new Asia team, which features both male and female jockeys. This inclusive move reflects the evolving nature of the sport, where gender parity is becoming the norm in top-tier competition.
Joining Suraj Narredu in Team Asia are two of Japan’s top riders — Ryusei Sakai, internationally acclaimed for his association with Forever Young, the current world’s highest-rated horse, and Shin Emperor, and Mirai Iwata, the 2023 World All-Star Jockeys champion. Together, the trio, clad in red silks, forms a formidable unit primed to challenge the world’s best across six fiercely contested races.
Narredu, one of India’s most decorated jockeys, boasts a career tally of over 2,000 wins, multiple Indian Derby victories, and notable international successes in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. A scion of India’s first family of racing — son of champion trainer Satish Narredu and nephew of former ace jockey Malesh Narredu — Suraj has carved out a legacy that now earns him a seat among the sport's global elite.
Team Captains for 2025 Shergar Cup:
Great Britain & Ireland: Hollie Doyle, the trailblazing jockey with over 1,023 career wins, is joined by Robbie Dolan, Melbourne Cup contender and The Voice Australia finalist.
Europe: Led by Per-Anders Gråberg, ten-time Swedish champion, alongside Sibylle Vogt of Switzerland and Italy’s Dario Di Tocco, who boasts over 850 wins including the Derby Italiano.
Rest of the World: Captained by Karis Teetan of Mauritius, a Hong Kong-based star known for victories aboard Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising.
Dubai Duty Free returns as title sponsor for the 20th consecutive year, backing the event with a £500,000 prize fund, plus £25,000 in stable bonuses. Beyond the racing, the Shergar Cup is a full-day spectacle, concluding with a vibrant concert headlined by Perrie, with supporting acts Joel Corry and Marvin Humes. Tickets begin at £35, with early bird discounts available until 2nd May.
As Suraj Narredu dons the captain’s armband and leads Team Asia into this iconic competition, Indian horse racing celebrates a defining international breakthrough — one that promises to inspire a new generation of jockeys and enthusiasts alike.