Saffie Osborne has made history as the first female jockey to win one of the five British Classic Flat races, guiding Highwayman to victory in the St Leger at Doncaster. The 24-year-old surged ahead in the final moments on the 11-1 outsider, marking a landmark achievement during the 250th anniversary of the world’s oldest Classic Flat race.
Joseph O’Brien, the winning trainer, secured a one-two finish as his other colt, Enceladus (5-2), came in second, trailing by two and a half lengths. Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien aimed to become only the third trainer to claim four consecutive St Leger titles but had to settle for third place with Amelia Earhart (22-1). Pre-race favorite Christmas Day (7-4), heavily backed to provide Aidan with a fourth straight St Leger win and complete the Derby-St Leger double, finished down in ninth.
Osborne told ITV Sport after her historic win, “I definitely didn’t have this on the bingo card this week,” adding that she wasn’t even sure if she would ride in the St Leger on Monday morning. No other female jockey has yet won the other four Classics — the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket or the Oaks and Derby at Epsom. Osborne expressed gratitude to Joseph O’Brien and his team for trusting her with the ride: “It won’t change Joseph’s life, but it’s changed mine.”
Daughter of trainer and former top National Hunt jockey Jamie Osborne and equine artist Katie O’Sullivan, Saffie began as an apprentice in 2020 and finished runner-up in the apprentice championship in 2021. She has been the leading jockey in the Racing League for three consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024. In 2024, she also became the first female jockey to win a race at the Dubai Carnival aboard Ouzo, and her first Classic ride that year saw her finish eighth on Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony in the 2,000 Guineas.
Like Rachel Blackmore, the first female jockey to win the Grand National, Osborne’s name is now etched into racing history. Joseph O’Brien, continuing his strong connection with the St Leger, previously won the race as a jockey in 2013 with Leading Light and celebrated his first win as a trainer in 2020 with Galileo Chrome. Although Enceladus was seen as his prime hope for another success due to his recent major wins including the Gordon Stakes, Highwayman had also shown impressive progress this year, notably winning the Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown.
Fan Take:
Saffie Osborne’s groundbreaking victory is a defining moment not just for her career but for the future of female jockeys in horse racing, breaking long-standing barriers in the sport’s most prestigious events. This milestone could inspire greater gender diversity in racing and open the door for more talented female riders to compete at the highest levels.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
