Breakout star of the saddle hoping to make a winning debut at Shergar Cup
Saffie Osborne is hoping her record of success at Ascot will help the Ladies Team to victory when she makes her Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut this weekend.
The breakout star of the Racing League will be front and centre of ITV screens again for the annual novelty event fought out between four teams of jockeys.
The 21-year-old Osborne joins Hayley Turner, who makes her 16th appearance, and Hollie Doyle.
They are up against teams representing GB and Ireland, Europe, who are captained by Frankie Dettori on his final appearance, and the Rest of the World.
“I am massively looking forward to it,” said Osborne, who is the daughter of trainer Jamie Osborne.
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“It’s been a competition I have watched growing up and Dad’s had a few runners in it. To be a part of it in the first year out of my claim is a massive honour.”
She added: “I stay with Hayley half the week in Newmarket so I am used to her bossing me around! Hayley and Hollie are obviously two people I have looked up to massively and to be on the same team as them is a real honour."
Osborne, a champion eventer in her teens, took three seasons to ride out her claim and after 46 successes last year she is on track for her best campaign yet.
She finished leading rider in the 2022 Racing League after riding a 6.538-1 treble on the closing night and is running away in the 2023 competition, riding a double at Chepstow on Thursday.
Her last gasp victory on Metier in the Chester Cup in May delivered her richest win while her record at Ascot, where she has ridden eight winners, has been enhanced by success on Random Harvest in the Group 3 Valiant Stakes on King George Day.
Osborne has excelled on the midweek Racing League (saffie.osborne/Instagram)Random Harvest’s trainer Ed Walker has become one of her biggest supporters and by chance the trainer’s in-form Dark Trooper will be one of her five rides on Saturday.
“Ed Walker was just as shocked as I was when I was drawn on him,” said Osborne. “Dark Trooper has won his last two in the Racing League and Sunday Series. I have ridden him a lot at home. He’s a fairly progressive horse.”
While Osborne will be working for the team led by two-time winner of the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle, awarded to the leading rider, a win would be a welcome bonus.
“I’ve not had a winner at the Royal Meeting yet but Ascot has been a lucky place for me so it would be really cool to get another on a big day there.”
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