THE queen of the Racing League is hoping to crown a memorable year in today’s Cesarewitch.
Saffie Osborne rides the well-fancied Gibraltar for Willie Mullins — just weeks after her dramatic £25,000 Racing League victory.
She rode a stunning 6,539-1 treble on the final night at Newcastle to overhaul Sean Levey in the jockey standings, scooping a mega-money bonus in the process.
Not only that, but she had her first ride in the Royal silks this summer and is on the verge of riding out her claim.
It’s been a hell of a season for Saffie, daughter of trainer and former top-class jump jockey Jamie.
But Osborne, 20, had plenty of adversity to overcome in the early days of her career, including a couple of horrendous injuries.
One fall at Windsor, which left her with a broken arm, ribs and a punctured lung, was described by Sun Racing’s Matt Chapman as “one of the worst I’ve ever seen”.
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And several months later, she revealed she had been receiving death threats from sick punters on social media, with the matter being reported to the police.
Thankfully, things have been looking up since then.
She has ridden a hatful of winners and her relationship with fellow jockey David Egan - who she will ride against today in the £200,000 Cesarewitch - is going from strength to strength.
Though the pair have some way to go until they are challenging Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle in the racing ‘power couple’ stakes.
She said: “Life is good. Things are going really well and I’ve stayed healthy, touch wood. I was a bit slow to get going this season but it has picked up.
“I’ve been supported by a lot of different trainers and I’m only nine winners away from riding out my claim. I’ve had some great moments this year which I look back on with a lot of pride. Riding for the Queen was a privilege and an amazing experience.
“Dad rode a lot for the Queen Mother so it was really special to put those silks on. Annoyingly I finished second, so the goal now is to ride a winner for the King.”
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As for her last-gasp Racing League heroics, Osborne has just about come down from the high of that famous three-timer.
She hasn’t decided what she is going to do with her five-figure bonus, but it’s a nice problem to have.
She added: “I was third last year and to finish top of the jockeys table this year was amazing.
“I had an incredible final night, I didn’t expect it at all but I just got on a roll and everything seemed to fall right.
“There are elements of the Racing League that need tweaking but it is only in its second year.
“As with anything new in this sport, people jump at the chance to criticise it. The team side of things is a bit of fun, but the prize-money is great and it’s fiercely competitive.”
That description could also apply to today’s £200,000 Cesarewitch.
The historic handicap has been dominated by jumps trainers, with Mullins saddling three straight winners between 2018 and 2020.
The hat-trick-seeking Gibraltar is one of a trio of runners for the Irishman. But he is likely to go off the shortest price of the lot, especially with Osborne’s 3lb claim.
She said: “I’m definitely riding for the right trainer in the race!
“Willie has been a friend of the family for a long time so it is really cool to be riding for him.
“I have been knocking on the door in big races and gone close at Royal Ascot, but I would love to get over the line in one of these big Saturday races. Gibraltar won easily on his last two starts. Hopefully we should be bang there.”
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