September 2026 will go down in racing folklore. Fully 250 years after the first edition of the St Leger Stakes, Saffie Osborne became the first female jockey to win a British Classic. Elsewhere, a Harry Charlton-trained colt entered the record books for more ignominious reasons, becoming the shortest-priced loser in British racing history.
Irish Champions’ Weekend took centre stage on the Emerald Isle. While the feature event produced a significant shock, the meeting as a whole told a familiar tale of O’Brien success, with Aidan, Joseph, and Donnacha all getting in on the act.
Taking the Highway to the History Books: Saffie Osborne Wins the St Leger
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Highwayman | 11/1 | Joseph Patrick O’Brien | Saffie Osborne |
| 2nd | Enceladus | 5/2 | Joseph Patrick O’Brien | Billy Loughnane |
| 3rd | Amelia Earhart | 22/1 | Aidan O’Brien | Tom Marquand |
In the year of its 250th anniversary celebrations, the St Leger Stakes witnessed one of its most momentous results. Forty years after Gay Kelleway became the first female to ride in a British Classic – finishing last aboard Davemma in the 1986 Oaks – Saffie Osborne fared significantly better in the Classic spotlight.
Heading into the week without a Group 1 win to her name, the 24-year-old wasn’t even booked to ride in the St Leger. However, that all changed on Tuesday morning, when she earned the call-up for the Joseph O’Brien-trained Highwayman. Not only did Saffie now have a ride in Britain’s oldest Classic, but she was set to partner a runner with a real chance.
Once underway in the Saturday afternoon highlight, Saffie grasped the opportunity with both hands. Travelling nicely in mid-division throughout, she made her move at the three-furlong pole. Hitting the front with two furlongs to go, Highwayman and his determined rider never looked like being caught. As one of the few runners in the field with proven form at the trip, the son of Persian King stayed on resolutely to score by two and a half lengths from stablemate Enceladus. It was yet another excellent training performance from Joseph O’Brien, but this was all about the lady in the saddle, who admitted the tears had begun to flow before she crossed the winning line.
Long admired for her talent, toughness, and tactical awareness, Saffie became the latest female rider to tick off a milestone in the sport. She follows in the footsteps of Group 1 winners Alex Greaves and Hayley Turner, and Hollie Doyle, who became the first female jockey to win a European Classic with Nashwa in the 2022 Prix de Diane. Speaking in the aftermath of the race, Saffie paid tribute to her winning mount, stating,
“…what that horse has just done for my career. I’d never met him before, but I’ll love him forever.”
Stormy Afternoon for Short-Odds Backers, as 1/33 shot Beaten at Goodwood
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Wreck It Ronnie | 10/1 | Charlie Pike | Kieren Fox |
| 2nd | Najidi Storm | 1/33 | Harry Charlton | Lewis Edmunds |
| 3rd | Dream Of Albion | 33/1 | Amanda Perrett | David Probert |
Four days before Saffie’s sublime display at Doncaster, racing witnessed a seemingly ridiculous result at Goodwood. Of course, it is far from unusual to see a short-priced runner beaten; after all, favourites only win around 30% of races. However, when lining up for the Cleansing Service Group Novice Stakes, Najidi Storm wasn’t just any old favourite. Impeccably bred and having made a winning debut at Kempton, the Juddmonte-owned runner started at odds of just 1/33 – no horse had ever lost at such a short price on British soil.
However, records are there to be broken, and Najidi Storm ensured he grabbed his own slice of infamy with a display which left most scratching their heads. Facing only two rivals, both of whom had been well beaten in their previous outings, the son of Frankel could manage only a one-paced second to 10/1 chance Wreck It Ronnie. Part-owned by Phil Foden and named in honour of his son, Wreck It Ronnie’s victory delighted the Manchester City man. Anyone who had backed Najidi Storm was no doubt feeling a rather different emotion, as the three-year-old became the shortest-priced loser in the history of a sport which spans centuries.
A Family Affair at Irish Champions Festival
While the four-day St Leger meeting took centre stage on home soil, the week’s most consistently classy fixture took place in Ireland. Kicking off at Leopardstown on Saturday and concluding at the Curragh on Sunday, the Irish Champions Festival featured seven Group 1 contests, headlined by the Irish Champion Stakes. That contest produced a record-breaking moment of its own, when the Jessica Harrington-trained Hotazhell scrambled home at 50/1 to become the longest-priced winner in the race’s history.
By his lofty standards, Aidan O’Brien enjoyed a quiet time on the opening day, with Darkness Falls providing the only bright spot with a brilliant display in the Golden Fleece Stakes. However, the O’Brien training dynasty exploded into life on Sunday afternoon, with six of the eight races falling to Aidan, Joseph, or Donnacha.
Aidan O’Brien extended his phenomenal record at the fixture with a Group 1 double. Sun Goddess struck first, rubberstamping her superstar status with a stunning performance in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. Already established as the king of the staying division, Scandinavia came next when extending his winning streak to eight in the Irish St Leger. In winning the race for an eighth time, O’Brien now sits just one behind nine-time winners Vincent O’Brien and Dermot Weld in the all-time trainers’ table.
Donnacha struck gold with Comanche Brave in the Flying Five Stakes, while Joseph claimed a closing day treble. The 1/5 chance Star Of State set the ball rolling in the big sales race on the card, before Folsom Blue stormed to a sensational six-length triumph in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. Finally, Oaks heroine Thundering On bounced back from Pretty Polly Stakes disappointment to outclass her rivals in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes.
Of the seven Group 1 contests held over the two days, five were won by a trainer named O’Brien. It would take a brave man to bet against Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha adding to their tallies of top-tier successes before the season is done.
