For Suraj Narredu, the international chapter of 2026 is gathering pace. Fresh from his second appearance at Ascot in the Shergar Cup, the Indian star jockey is now preparing for a new challenge in Japan, where he will compete in the World All-Star Jockeys at Sapporo Racecourse on August 22 and 23.
Suraj Narredu’s Japan debut will mark another important step in a season that has already taken him to two major international racing stages within the space of a few weeks.
Narredu returned to Ascot on August 8 for his second Shergar Cup appearance, representing the Rest of the World team. It followed his landmark achievement at the same meeting in 2025, when he became the first Indian jockey to ride a winner at Ascot.
This year, Fandom provided his best finish with third place in the opening contest, while Ebt’s Guard finished fourth in the final race of the six-race team competition.
From Britain, Narredu’s attention has now shifted to Japan.
The Japan Racing Association has invited him to compete in the 2026 World All-Star Jockeys, a four-race international competition at Sapporo Racecourse. The opening two legs will take place on Saturday, August 22, with the remaining two scheduled for Sunday, August 23.
Narredu has already shared his excitement about the assignment with his followers on Instagram. Writing from Sapporo, he described the opportunity to ride in Japan alongside some of the world’s leading jockeys as special, adding that he was proud to be part of the event and ready to make the most of the opportunity.
He signed off with a simple message: “The track awaits.”
The visit also carries a family connection. His uncle, former champion jockey Malesh Narredu, rode in Japan during his own career, adding another layer of significance to Suraj’s first riding assignment in the country.
The competition will bring Narredu alongside some of the most recognised names in international racing, including Japanese legend Yutaka Take, as leading home riders and an international contingent come together for the two-day competition.
Sunday will present a particularly varied test for Narredu. The third leg is scheduled over 1,700 metres on dirt before the fourth and final leg switches to 1,800 metres on turf, requiring the visiting riders to adapt quickly between the two surfaces.
That challenge is part of what makes the World All-Star Jockeys a distinctive international assignment. Riders accustomed to different racing environments will compete at Sapporo across four races, with points accumulated according to their finishing positions.
For Narredu, the opportunity comes after a long career built predominantly on Indian tracks, where he has established himself among the country’s leading jockeys. His appearance at Sapporo gives him another opportunity to build on that experience while representing Indian racing on an international stage.
It also continues a particularly significant period in his overseas career. His historic Ascot winner in 2025 established a landmark for an Indian jockey, while his return to the Shergar Cup this month put him back on one of British racing’s most recognisable stages.
Now, only two weeks after Ascot, a very different test awaits in Sapporo.
Ascot was one chapter. Sapporo is the next.
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