From playful apprentice to humble champion - Raddesh Roman’s 400th victory cements Caymanas Park legacy

At Caymanas Park, the roar of the crowd is a familiar symphony for back-to-back champion jockey Raddesh ‘Sneaky Fox’ Roman. However, his recent 400th career victory marked a quiet, internal milestone rather than just another celebratory parade. Going into the history-making race, Roman was acutely aware of his standing; he knew he was on 399 wins and fully realised the significance of the moment. Interestingly, the achievement felt different than one might expect. Because he was already "on a roll", the milestone was not overwhelmingly exciting, though he admitted his surprise at reaching the 400-win mark so quickly in his career.

The historic win was made even more special by the team behind it. Roman secured his 400th win while riding for Anthony Nunes, a trainer he holds in the highest regard. Roman proudly refers to Nunes as a "master" and noted that it was a very good feeling to achieve this 400th milestone on one of his horses. “It’s a very good feeling," Roman said, adding, "Knowing that it was with his horse I got the 400th win.” 

The journey to 400 wins was not without its growing pains, and Roman is refreshingly candid about his evolution. The core of his success lies in a profound shift in mindset. Acknowledging his earlier years, the turning point in his career arrived when he consciously decided to stop "playing around". He realised that by securing a good agent and committing to hard work, everything in his career would ultimately fall into place. 

"I decided to stop toying around and get a good agent, and from there I knew everything would work out," he reflected.  

This newfound maturity transformed him from a promising young rider into a formidable, disciplined champion.

Every great jockey has a partner that changes the trajectory of their career. For Roman, that catalyst was Blue Vinyl. He firmly credits the horse with helping him truly take off in his profession, specifically highlighting their triumphant runs in past Jamaica Guineas. These classic victories laid the unshakable foundation for the champion he is today.

Despite his public success and commanding presence on the track, Roman feels that his true character is sometimes misunderstood by the public. He acknowledges that some people perceive him as being somewhat distant. In reality, he insists he is not that type of person at all. Away from the fierce competition of the starting gates, Roman describes himself as a very nice and humble individual. He wants his supporters to know that he has a big heart and genuinely cares for people.

As he currently leads the 2026 jockey standings, this early-season milestone has provided him with a vital psychological edge over his competitors. His strategy for the remainder of the year is simple yet unyielding: continue working hard and execute exactly what needs to be done on the track. "I'm just gonna just continue to work hard, execute and do what I gotta do out there on the track," he stated. 

With 400 wins now secured, the Sneaky Fox is focused entirely on the road ahead. Driven by his quiet humility and an unrelenting work ethic, Roman is no longer just chasing victories; he is actively building a legacy.