Saffie Osborne wins St Leger, becoming first female British Classic winner

Saffie Osborne has become the first female jockey to win a British Classic race. Riding Highwayman, the 24-year-old secured victory in the St Leger, the world’s oldest Classic Flat race, which was celebrating its 250th anniversary.

Osborne, who was riding for trainer Joseph O’Brien, pulled ahead of the field in the closing stages at Doncaster, finishing ahead of Enceladus and Amelia Earhart. Following the win, Osborne expressed her shock, stating that the victory “means the absolute world” and noting that she did not expect to have a ride with such a significant chance earlier in the week.

Prior to Osborne’s achievement, no female jockey had won any of the five British Classics, which include the 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks, and the Epsom Derby. While Hollie Doyle was the first woman to place in a British Classic at the Epsom Oaks in 2022, Osborne is the first to take the top spot.