Saffie Osborne
{{short description|British jockey}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox horseracing personality
|name = Saffie Osborne
|image =
|caption =
|occupation = Jockey
|birth_place =
|birth_date = 11th March 2002
|death_place =
|death_date =
|height =
|career wins =
|race = Premio Elena e Sergio Cumani (2022)
November Handicap (2022)
Chester Cup (2023)
Valiant Stakes (2023)
Godolphin Stakes (2023)
Dukhan Sprint (2024)
Brontë Cup (2025)
Victoria Cup (2025)
|awards =
|honours =
|horses = Random Harvest
Metier
Tregony
Emaraaty Ana
Scenic
|spouse=
}}
Saffron Rose Osborne (born 11 March 2002) is a multiple Group race winning British jockey who competes in flat racing.
Background
The daughter of equine artist Katie O'Sullivan and trainer and former National Hunt jockey Jamie Osborne, Osborne was born in Winchester and grew up around horses in Lambourn. She attended Cheam School and Bradfield College.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/racing/2020/10/13/saffie-osborne-jockey-rising-star-combining-race-riding-eventing/|title=Saffie Osborne, rising star jockey, on combining race-riding at Ascot Champions Day with eventing|date=13 October 2020|work=The Daily Telegraph}} She competed in eventing and won six medals at pony, junior and youth European championships, riding Little Indian Feather and Lakantus, both owned by Lord and Lady Blyth. A highlight of her eventing career was winning individual and team gold in the 2018 FEI European Pony Championships at Bishop Burton with Little Indian Feather, a former rescue pony from Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://theownerbreeder.com/stories/the-finish-line-saffie-osborne/|title=The finish line - Saffie Osborne|date=10 August 2023|work=The Owner Breeder}}
Racing career
After leaving school in April 2019, Osborne worked at the yard of Aidan O'Brien for four months and then over the winter spent another four months gaining experience with Gai Waterhouse in Australia. She started out riding as an apprentice jockey in 2020, riding her first winner (Hot Scoop, trained by her father) at Windsor on 27 July 2020. In October 2020 Osborne was injured in a fall at Windsor, suffering concussion, broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken arm.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingtv.com/news/saffie-osborne-has-broken-arm-and-ribs-after-windsor-fall|title=Saffie Osborne: "I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle"|date=20 October 2020|work=Racing TV}} In 2021 Osborne came second behind Marco Ghiani in the apprentice championship in spite of having to take two weeks off in July after she sustained a leg injury in the starting stalls at Newmarket, and then having a second operation on her arm in October.
In 2022, Osborne was crowned Racing League leading jockey. She achieved her first Group race win in October 2022 while still an apprentice, riding Random Harvest, trained by Ed Walker, in the Group 3 Premio Elena e Sergio Cumani in Italy. In November 2022 she won the November Handicap at Doncaster on Metier, trained by Harry Fry, and later that month rode out her claim with her 95th winner.{{efn|After riding 95 winners an apprentice jockey can no longer claim a weight allowance and must apply for a professional licence.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/may/12/talking-horses-saffie-osborne-lifts-chester-cup-in-rookie-season-horse-racing-tips|title=Talking Horses: Saffie Osborne lifts Chester Cup in rookie season|date=12 May 2023|work=The Guardian}} During her first season as a professional jockey in 2023, Osborne won the Chester Cup on Metier, while Random Harvest provided her with her first British Group race success in the Group 2 Valiant Stakes.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/jockey/100350/saffie-osborne/stats|title=Saffie Osborne|access-date=16 August 2023|work=Racing Post}} Osborne was a member of the winning "Girls" team in the 2023 Shergar Cup, the first time she had participated in the event.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/great-atmosphere-good-prize-money-saffie-osborne-shines-as-she-inspires-ladies-team-to-shergar-cup-glory-at-ascot-anj9l9P8KpV8/|title='I'm riding the crest of a wave' - Saffie Osborne shines as she inspires Ladies team to Shergar Cup glory at Ascot|date=12 August 2023|work=Racing Post}}
After three months off with a knee injury after a fall, Osborne returned to riding in February 2024 and became the first female jockey to win a race at Meydan Racecourse, when she rode Ouzo, trained by her father, to victory in the Lord Glitters Handicap on 16 February. The following day she won the Dukhan Sprint in Doha on Emaraaty Ana, also trained by her father.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/im-on-cloud-nine-saffie-osborne-follows-historic-meydan-win-with-second-victory-axenh9k79xDA/|title='It's been pretty magical. I'm on cloud nine' - Saffie Osborne follows historic Meydan win with Qatar victory|date=17 February 2024|work=Racing Post}} On 4 May 2024, Osborne had her first ride in a Classic race when she rode 40/1 outsider Ten Bob Tony, trained by Ed Walker, into 8th place in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/38/newmarket/2024-05-04/861256|title=3:35 Newmarket|date=4 May 2024|work=Racing Post}}
Personal life
In June 2021, after Osborne was the subject of threats on social media, her father contacted police; this led to a wider debate about online abuse of racing participants.{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/jamie-osborne-seeks-punishment-after-social-media-threats-to-daughter-saffie/497372|title='Enough is enough' - Saffie Osborne threat prompts strong message against abuse|date=24 June 2021|work=Racing Post}}
Notes
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References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Osborne, Saffie}}
Category:British female jockeys
Category:People educated at Bradfield College
Category:People educated at Cheam School
Category:Sportspeople from Winchester