Saffie Osborne became the first woman to ride a British classic winner aboard Highwayman in the St. Leger Stakes (G1) at Doncaster Racecourse.
Osborne, 24, is having an exceptional season and only became aware she was riding in the race earlier this week, with the colt's trainer Joseph O'Brien jocking her up aboard the listed winner at the last moment.
Highwayman was beaten a combined 57 lengths in his first three starts, and only broke his maiden in July at Killarney, while he stepped up in class to take the Vinnie Roe Stakes last month at Leopardstown Racecourse.
An emotional Osborne said: "I don't think I've ever been speechless in my life! I definitely didn't have this on the bingo card for this week. I didn't have a ride in the St. Leger on Monday morning, let alone one with a chance.
"I can't thank Joseph and his team enough for putting their faith in me. This won't change Joseph's life, but it's changed mine. I'd be nowhere without my agent Tony Hind and, I know it sounds cliche, but my mum and my dad. It means the absolute world and I'm in shock."
O'Brien, who won the race with Galileo Chrome in 2020, was responsible for the first two horses home as Highwayman's stablemate Enceladus finished 2 1/2 lengths behind in second under Billy Loughnane.
"It was a super run," Loughnane said. "I got into a bit of interference early, but he got into a lovely rhythm behind the winner, who was just too good on the day. When I rolled into it at the two and a half, I thought I had a right chance, but Saffie was always going well."
Amelia Earhart fared best of Aidan O'Brien's runners by finishing third under last year's winning rider Tom Marquand. Of the remainder, Pierre Bonnard was sixth and the Epsom Derby (G1) winner and 7-4 favorite Christmas Day disappointed in ninth.
Highwayman was cut to 14-1 (from 25) for the Melbourne Cup (G1) Nov. 3, a race Joseph O'Brien won with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020. He is also entered in the Irish Cesarewitch Sept. 27.
The first group 1 success for Osborne meant she added her name to a list of exceptional women riders. They include Alex Greaves, who made history when becoming the first woman to ride a group 1 winner in Britain when her mount Ya Malak dead-heated with Coastal Bluff in the 1997 Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York Racecourse.
Hayley Turner became first woman to achieve the feat outright when successful in the 2011 July Cup (G1) on Dream Ahead, while Hollie Doyle became the first woman to ride a European classic winner when Nashwa landed the Prix de Diane (G1) in 2022.
Milestones for female jockeys on the Flat
- Ina Schwarzkachel is the first woman to ride a national Derby winner when partnering Cleopatra to victory in the Nederlandse (Dutch) Derby in 1971.
- Gay Kelleway is the first female jockey to ride in a British classic when last on Davemma in the 1986 Oaks.
- Sibylle Vogt is the first female jockey to win a classic that is part of the European Pattern when landing the German One Thousand Guineas (G2) on Novemba in 2021.
- Hollie Doyle is the first female jockey to win a group 1 European classic when triumphing in the Prix de Diane on Nashwa in 2022.
- Amateur Nina Baltromei is the first female jockey to win a national Derby that is part of the European Pattern when winning the Deutsches Derby (G1) on Hochkonig in 2025.
- Saffie Osborne is the first female jockey to win a British classic when triumphing in the 250th St. Leger on Highwayman in 2026.
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