India's top jockey focused on the 'positive, not negative' after Shergar Cup fallout

India’s top jockey’s British tour comes full circle on Friday when he takes his likely final mount before he returns home.

Suraj Narredu made headlines across India and in Britain when he rode his first winner in Britain during the Shergar Cup at Ascot, the track where Frankie Dettori’s 1996 ‘Magnificent 7’ feat inspired him to become a rider. Not only did he realise his dream on Fireblade in the Shergar Cup Stayers, he also captained the new Asia team to overall victory in the international jockeys’ event.

The 40-year-old., who celebrated his success by attempting a Frankie Dettori flying dismount, stayed on after the fixture to gain more experience of British racing,riding work in Newmarket while getting mounts in races at Kempton and Southwell. He is set to be in action at Southwell again on Thursday.

Then on Friday he returns to Ascot where he is set to partner the Ismail Mohammed-trained Born To Bright in a fillies’ maiden.

READ MORE: Ombudsman vs Delacroix part 3 shelved as Godolphin star is kept for Ascot

READ MORE: Jockey who surrendered huge lead in ‘very perplexing’ race cleared of any violation

“Luckily I found a ride to get back to Ascot,” he told Mirror Racing. “My trip started at Ascot and it’s going to end at Ascot.

“After the Shergar Cup I had a small holiday with my family in London, then they left and I came to Newmarket. Unfortunately I had a whip ban at Ascot and lost four days but I have managed to pick up a few rides and have been riding out in the mornings. This is my last week.”

He went on: “I’ve loved it. It’s been a great experience to come and ride on such beautiful tracks and gallops. It’s given me more insight into the racing, the horses and the different ways of training. It’s always great to learn.”

Stewards at Ascot handed out a whopping 32 days of whip bans to the visiting riders who took part in a meeting at which William Haggas’s wife and assistant Maureen had described the standard of rider as “noticeably lower than usual” - further claiming that there were “one or two who maybe shouldn’t be here”.

Narredu, who has ridden nearly 2,500 winners including four victories in the Indian Derby, said: “I did read about that and I remembered what was said but the new team won the Shergar Cup so I think that says a lot.

“I don’t like to get into the negative aspects, I love my sport, and I look at all the positive things we can get out of it and try to enjoy my time wherever I am.”