Saffie Osborne still on a high after historic St Leger victory

Saffie Osborne was still on cloud nine the day after her historic success in the 250th Betfred St Leger at Doncaster.

In partnering Joseph O’Brien’s Highwayman to victory on Town Moor, Osborne became the first woman to ride the winner of a British Classic.

The 24-year-old was back at Doncaster on Sunday for four booked rides on the fourth and final day of the St Leger Festival, and admitted the magnitude of her achievement had not yet sunk in.

Osborne told the Press Association: “I let myself dream a bit through the week about how incredible that would be if that happened (winning), but I had to bring myself back to reality and think that’s never going to happen.

“Yesterday was easily by far the best day of my life. A feeling that I will never forget and I’m still on a bit of a high. I had so many people to thank and in front of such a big crowd as well. It was the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. I couldn’t believe it when I crossed the line.

“Yesterday was one of the first days I’ve let myself feel every emotion on a horse. I’ve tried not to get too high or too low as it’s gets to be a very uncomfortable rollercoaster.

“It was the opposite of lying in a hospital bed or getting beaten on a horse in a big race. Yesterday was so special because I’ve been in places where I put so much pity on myself and thinking ‘when is this going to happen’?”

Osborne does not anticipate facing any problems climbing down off cloud nine and going back to the day job, adding: “We get fairly used to that (dropping back to everyday races) and I feel very lucky to get to do this job everyday and I don’t take it for granted.

“I try not to think about these things and I don’t know when the next opportunities are going to arrive. First and foremost I know this job isn’t forever and I try to enjoy it as much as possible.

“Everyone dreams of being champion jockey. but I want to just keep loving it as much as I do.”

Osborne’s victory on Town Moor has thrust her into the betting for the BBC’s Sports Personality Of The Year, with William Hill quoting her at 10-1 to win.

She said: “Someone sent it to me last night and said ‘you’re sandwiched in between Jude Bellingham and Lewis Hamilton in the betting’ – that’s not a bad place to be!”

The rider was quickly back into the thick of things on Sunday morning and speaking on Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme, Osborne earlier said: “Luckily I rode out for Richard Spencer and got back into normality, but it was slightly mental walking into the petrol station and seeing my face on the front page of the newspaper and a couple of people were looking at me and looking back at the paper! I was like ‘oh God, this all feels a little bit much right now’!”

One person who “randomly” came to Osborne’s mind was National Hunt trainer Richard Phillips, who five years ago had a premonition.

She added: “I remember when I started riding and in 2021, Richard said to me ‘Hollie Doyle might be the first girl to be champion jockey, but you’ll be the first girl to win a Classic’. I came back in on Saturday and the first message I saw on my phone was from Richard, just saying ‘I told you’!

“I think I’ve had quite a few near misses at the top level and you sometimes get it in the back of your head that people will think ‘she’s not up to that’ or ‘she can’t get the ball in the back of the net when it really matters’.

“To go and win a Classic for a trainer like Joseph O’Brien means everything to me, because I think everyone goes through spells where confidence isn’t as high as it could be. It’s going to be a day that sticks in my brain forever.”