Saffie Osborne believes her 2026 successes have proven she is on a path toward a future challenge for the jockeys' championship, as she prepares to captain the Britain and Ireland team at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.
The 24-year-old will lead a team featuring Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle, both former or current champions, in her second appearance at the team event. Osborne has climbed to seventh in the jockeys' standings with 40 wins this season, while her prize-money earnings have already exceeded her 2024 best, thanks to high-profile victories in the Weatherbys Super Sprint and Moet & Chandon International.
Ambition and Resilience
“Anyone that starts off in this job, not wanting to be champion jockey, shouldn't be doing it because it's so tough and gruelling that if you're not aiming to be at the top, then I don't know why you're really doing it, to be honest,” she said.
Reflecting on her recent struggles, Osborne added: “In 2024 I rode a large number of winners, but I lacked riding a top quality horse, which is starting to come now. Then last year I was just plagued with problems. I got injured twice and I had to cut my season short just as it started to get going again. It just felt like nothing was kind of clicking into the right place and then in the back of your mind you're hoping you haven't plateaued or reached the level of where you're going to be. I think this year has proved that's not the case.”
Strong Form at Ascot
Osborne has a formidable record at Ascot, where she rode two winners on her only previous Shergar Cup appearance, landed her first Group winner at the track, and rode a treble on King George day to take her total haul at the course to 21. “I have had a lot of luck there outside of the Royal meeting,” she said. “Maybe it's because I've been going there since I was in a pram.”
The Shergar Cup features some of the best in the world, with Frida Valle Skar and Marie Velon joining Lemaire for Europe, Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris teaming up with Ho for Hong Kong, and India's Suraj Narredu and legend Yutaka Take alongside Melham.
Team Effort and Expectations
Riders have been allocated rides by drawing lots for all six handicaps, with points awarded from 15 for winning, through 10, seven, five, and three for fifth place. Osborne's best chance of a win from her five rides looks to be 7-4 shot Hoseki for William Haggas in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic.
As team skipper, Osborne is looking to emulate Jamie Spencer as the last captain of Great Britain and Ireland to lift the trophy, and competition stalwart Hayley Turner as the last female rider to pick up the top jockey award, even if she is understating her talents ahead of raceday.
“To have Ryan for the first time in 20 years and to have Dylan Browne McMonagle riding for us who was champion jockey last year and who is having an incredible season this year is amazing,” she said. “Excluding me it is probably the strongest GB and Ireland team they have ever had.”
