24-year-old British jockey Saffie Osborne has enjoyed a stellar year, repeatedly making history. She will make her first riding stint in Hong Kong from November 8 to December 23, hoping to continue her strong momentum from this season.
Making History and Major Race Success Osborne has shown outstanding ability on the international stage. In early 2024, she became the first female jockey to ride a winner at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, followed by another victory in Qatar. In September, she partnered with the Joseph O’Brien-trained “Highway Hero” to win the St Leger Stakes (2905m Group 1), becoming the first female jockey to win a British Classic and securing her first Group 1 victory. With her strike rate in major races continuing to rise, she recently captured the World Pool Jockey Championship on British Champions Day at Ascot. Her total number of winners this year is highly likely to break her personal best set in 2024.
Enjoying the Season and Fulfilling a Dream Reflecting on this season’s performance, Osborne admitted it is the first time since her debut that she has truly enjoyed every moment. After returning to the UK in April, she quickly found her rhythm, riding 20 winners in May alone. She feels fully relaxed and adapted to the pace of the season, and finds her frequent success on major racedays incredible. She expressed that riding all over the world is the fulfillment of a dream she had as a 12-year-old, and competing in Hong Kong has always been a major goal.
Preparing for Hong Kong Tracks To prepare for the upcoming challenge, Osborne has been closely following the races at Sha Tin and Happy Valley since the start of the current Hong Kong season, actively seeking advice from fellow jockeys. Facing the notoriously difficult Hong Kong tracks, her peers described Happy Valley as “Chester in reverse, but ten times sharper.” Consequently, she has been deliberately practicing breaking quickly from the barriers over the past few weeks.
A Pragmatic Approach to a New Experience Despite her recent run of excellent form, Osborne maintains a pragmatic attitude towards this stint. She highly praised the unparalleled racing atmosphere in Hong Kong, noting that the standard of racing, jockeys, and horses is exceptionally high, making it a dream stage for any rider. She hopes to broaden her horizons, learn, and continue to grow from this experience, while working hard to ride winners in Hong Kong’s fiercely competitive racing environment.
Source: HKJC