St Leger history-maker Saffie Osborne sets sights on Melbourne Cup after Doncaster heroics

Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here

Saffie Osborne has set her sights on taking her St Leger heroics across the world, with the history-making rider eager to have a crack at winning this year's Melbourne Cup.

Osborne became the first female jockey to win a British Classic when Highwayman stormed to success at Doncaster on Saturday, and she is now aiming to become the third woman to ride the winner of Australia's greatest race.

Michelle Payne was famously the first on 100-1 shot Prince Of Penzance in 2015, while Jamie Melham took the Flemington showpiece on Half Yours last year.

Joseph O'Brien said that Highwayman is in line for a crack at the Melbourne Cup and while it is unclear if Osborne will keep the ride, the trainer will need plenty of jockeys as he is aiming ten of his horses at the race.

Speaking on Australian radio show SEN's Giddy Up With Gareth Hall, Osborne said: "Everyone wants to win the Melbourne Cup. I was injured during the carnival last year, but it was an amazing day to watch. I actually went to each of the four days at Flemington and it was amazing.

Saffie Osborne: could see Highwayman "having a seriously good chance" in the Melbourne CupCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"They put on such a great show and it was a brilliant atmosphere to be a part of. I'd quite like to have a ride in it this year."

The weights for the Melbourne Cup are released on Thursday, and Osborne believes Highwayman has all the right attributes to land a historic staying race double.

She said: "I haven't won a Melbourne Cup, so I don't know what it takes to win one, but to win a British Classic he's obviously a pretty good horse. He's very unexposed and all he's done is improve through his career.

"He's very straightforward and has a very good mind, which will stand him in good stead in a race that has so much build-up to it. I could see him having a seriously good chance."

Should Osborne pick up a Melbourne Cup mount, it will not be the first time she has ridden in Australia.

She previously worked for Gai Waterhouse at Randwick in the winter of 2019 and early 2020, while she rode five winners there during a stint with Ciaron Maher in 2024.

Read more:

Joseph O'Brien could run TEN in Melbourne Cup as St Leger hero Highwayman joins trainer's huge Australia team 

All eyes on this week's Melbourne Cup weights for Joseph O'Brien's latest staying talent - plus an eyecatcher to note for the Ayr Gold Cup 

Wathnan Racing to break new ground as plans put in place for first runner in Australia 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.