Suraj Narredu wins in Japan

Suraj Narredu passing the winning post astride 3y filly, Fier Chanter, at the Sapporo racetrack in Japan on Saturday

Ace Indian Jockey Suraj Narredu, who had, in last August, won a race at Royal Ascot, created history yet again by becoming the first Indian jockey to win a race in Japan. Narredu powered a three-year-old maiden filly to a smashing victory in a 2600m race at the Sapporo racetrack in Japan where he was specially invited to ride on the Saturday card.

"Winning on my very first day here feels very special," Suraj said in a press interview after the victory, "I am very happy for myself, my family and my country."

The Japanese press nicknamed Suraj the "Magic man" from India, a title popularised by champion Hong Kong jockey J Moreira, who unfortunately failed to live up to it when he left Hong Kong in an attempt to shift base to Japan.

"Thirty years ago, my uncle (Malesh) rode in Japan, and as a kid I was fascinated by the videos and images he brought back as memory," Suraj had said on arrival at Sapporo on Friday night, before adding, "I hope I will do well, and make my country proud."

His words proved prophetic and Indian racing world erupted in joy when news of Suraj's first win in Japan spread like wildfire on Saturday morning.

The race club, RWITC, rose to the occasion and played video tape of the race Suraj won, and the huge racing crowd that had gathered at the Pune racetrack for the Saturday card accorded a thunderous applause to those images.

With these two stupendous feats, in a span of 12 months, from Royal Ascot to Japan, Suraj Narredu has brought such glory to India that perhaps no other sportsman has been able to achieve.