UK jockey Saffron Osborne begins Melbourne summer stint

English jockey Saffie Osborne has begun a three-month stint in Melbourne and there’s one aspect of racing in Australia she’ll have to get used to quickly.

Emerging English jockey Saffie Osborne has embraced a rapid introduction to Australian racing in her first week in Melbourne – with tight tracks and heatwave conditions.

Osborne, who plans to spend three months based in Melbourne, riding predominantly for Ciaron Maher, has rides at The Valley and Cranbourne on Friday and Saturday respectively.

The 21-year-old rode at Geelong and Caulfield Heath earlier in the week.

“I’ve been trying to watch as much racing as possible,” Osborne said.

“Everywhere is a little bit different but at the same time it’s riding a horse.

“It’s kind of ‘have saddle, will travel’, trying to get used to all the tracks, they’re probably a little bit tighter than the tracks at home but should be no problem.”

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The same cannot quite be said for the 35 degrees forecast for both Friday and Saturday.

“I think we get one day of that a year in England,” Osborne laughed.

“I’ll have to get used to it pretty quickly.”

Osborne has ridden 256 winners – striking at 12 per cent – from 2120 starters.

She has managed one third placing in four Australian starts to date.

Osborne is riding Fratineeze and Hear The Crowd on Friday night at The Valley.

The multiple Group 3 and Listed-winner has UK import Duke Of Condicote at Cranbourne on Saturday and either Running By or Cosmic Vega in the cup.

Running By is a $7.50 third favourite for the Cranbourne Cup while Cosmic Vega is rated a $31 outsider.

UK rider Saffron “Saffie” Osborne rode at Caulfield on Wednesday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Osborne, who in February became the first female jockey to ride a winner at Meydan, UAE, wants to make the most of the Melbourne experience.

“I don’t do anything by halves,” Osborne said.

“It’s our off-season in England, it’s just all-weather racing now and I wanted to get away and Australia looked like a lovely place to do so.”

Osborne spent a winter in Melbourne in 2020, working as a stablehand for Maher and then Gai Waterhouse.

Maher stayed with Osborne’s parents, trainer and former jockey Jamie and equine artist Katie O’Sullivan, when he travelled hurdler Big Blue to England for the Cheltenham Festival.

“I’d just finished working for Aidan O’Brien and Ciaron asked if I’d ever been to Australia before and I said no, so I went over and worked for him,” Osborne said.

“He probably regretted that choice having a near turned 18-year-old come and work for him, it was a great experience and I wanted to come back now I’m riding.

“I’ve been riding in England since, I was meant to come out last year but I got injured so I’ve been wanting to come back.”

Maher last year hosted young Group 1 Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Browne McMonagle has returned multiple times since, including Cup Week just gone and rode a winner for Maher last Saturday at Newcastle.

Originally published as UK jockey Saffron Osborne begins Melbourne summer stint