Saffie Osborne has been handed a live chance of a first Classic victory after being booked to ride Highwayman in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday. The 24-year-old goes into the race in the middle of a dream season, and Highwayman arrives as a horse with proven stamina and a profile that suggests he can be competitive at Town Moor.
Highwayman is a 12-1 fourth-favourite for the world’s oldest Classic, which reaches its 250th edition this weekend. That sort of position in the betting tells its own story: he is not the market leader, but he is clearly regarded as one of the serious players after last time out winning the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes.
A season that keeps opening doors
Osborne’s year has already included winners aboard Zigazig Ah in the Weatherbys Super Sprint, a treble at Ascot on King George day and a Glorious Goodwood double. She also captained the Great Britain and Ireland team to Shergar Cup glory, and her latest call-up adds another major moment to a season that has already moved at pace.
She said her agent texted to tell her she had the ride, adding that she was “very excited” and that Highwayman looks “a really nice horse” and a horse with “a serious chance”. She also described it as an honour to get the call-up for a horse of this calibre.
Why Highwayman gives her a real shot
The attraction is obvious. Highwayman has already shown he can stay the trip, and Osborne pointed to that when explaining why she believes Saturday’s distance should suit. After winning a Listed race last time out and staying the trip well that day, he looks exactly the type of horse who can cope with the demands of the St Leger.
She also stressed that there are plenty of good horses in the race, but said Highwayman looks “very progressive”. That is the key point for a horse sitting at 12-1: he may not have the biggest reputation in the field, but he has the stamina evidence, the upward curve and now a jockey arriving in confident form.
The bigger picture at Doncaster
For Osborne, this is about more than a single ride. It is another reminder that she is becoming a regular name in major races, and that consistency is being rewarded with chances on horses that matter. She said it has been a great season and praised Tony Hind for getting her on some very good horses.
For Highwayman, the task is straightforward: confirm that the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes was a stepping stone to something bigger. If he does that, Osborne will have a genuine first Classic chance in one of the most historic races in the sport. If he does not, the performance will still underline how quickly her season is developing.
