Raddesh Roman is hurt, but only in the standings.

Despite trailing leader Tevin Foster by seven winners in the race for the 2026 jockeys’ championship, the two-time defending champion Roman says he’s fully recovered from injury and ready to defend his crown with 24 race days remaining in the season.

Roman returned to the saddle on Saturday, August 29 after time on the sidelines, and wasted no time finding the winner’s enclosure. He booted home Never Despair for trainer Peter-John Parsard on Sunday, August 30, then followed up with Royal Poppy for Gary Subratie on Saturday, September 5.

At that point the gap was just four winners — Foster on 65, Roman on 61. Foster then opened it back up on Sunday, September 6 with a three-timer aboard I Am Fred, Native Isle, and Belleza Gris. Roman went winless on the day.

With the season winding down, Foster now leads 68-61.

But Roman isn’t fazed.

“Well, yes, and I have to just thank the Almighty because I feel exceptionally well and I’m very happy with that. And so, I know it will be a ding-dong battle down into the rest of the year,” Roman told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

The shoulder that sidelined Roman is no longer an issue.

“Well, no pain in the shoulder and I thank God for that, as I said before, so I will just continue to put in the hard work and bring the fight,” he said.

“Well, the only worry I had was about my shoulder, and you know it’s giving me good results now, so I’m pretty confident that I will definitely defend my title this year,” Roman ended.

Roman’s absence had stemmed from a dramatic incident on Saturday, July 25, 2026, during the running of the afternoon’s second race. Aboard Midnight Galaxy, the champion was unseated in a split-second chain reaction that also involved fellow riders Demar Williams on Ruby’s Light and Tyrese Anderson on Bubblingbrownsugar.

If Foster holds his current pace, he wins his first title. There’s no more room for error. This isn’t about who’s the better rider. Both have already proven their pedigree. This is about who wants it more over the next 24 racedays.

They’ve done this before. In 2024, Roman chased Foster all year, trailing him for most of the season, before stealing the title by one win on the final day. In 2025, Roman turned it into a runaway. Foster left for Canada to ride, and Roman cruised to his second-straight championship.