One mile, six furlongs and 115 yards. That is the distance of the prestigious ST LEGER, at 250 years, the oldest classic race in Thoroughbred racing in the world.
And jockey SAFFIE OSBORNE became the first woman to win the test of champions on Sept. 12 when she guided HIGHWAYMAN (Fr) to a stirring victory.
Osborne, 24, is having a superb season and only became aware she was riding in the race earlier this week, with the colt’s trainer Joseph O’Brien naming her as the rider near entry time.
Highwayman was beaten a combined 57 lengths in his first three starts, and only broke his maiden in July at Killarney, while he stepped up in class to take the Vinnie Roe Stakes last month at Leopardstown.
Owned by John Necteous, Highwayman is a son of Persian King from the Harlan’s Holiday mare Salyana.
Osborne told ITV after the race, “I definitely didn’t have this on the bingo card for this week. I didn’t even know if I would be riding in the St Leger on Monday morning, let alone one with a genuine chance. I have to thank Joseph and his team for putting their faith in me. It won’t change Joseph’s life, but it has completely changed mine. It means the absolute world and just doesn’t feel real.”
Osborne’s first Classic ride came on Walker’s Ten Bob Tony in the 2000 Guineas two years ago when she finished eighth. She rode Heart Of Honor in the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, two legs of the American Triple Crown.
Ireland:
Longshots HOTAZHELL (GB) (Too Darn Hot (GB)) and WIMBLETON HAWKEYE took over the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, a Win and You’re In Race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and raced to the wire almost as one. Hotazhell won the 1 1/4 mile turf classic by inches at 50 to 1 odds setting up big payoffs with 33 to 1 rival ‘Hawkeye’.
The race was billed as a rematch of the Aug. 19 Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York Racecourse in England between winner Item (GB), runner-up Almaqam (GB), and third-place finisher Constitution River (FR). However, Item and and Almaqam never released the same late rallies, finishing sixth and fourth, respectively.
Constitution River took command with about 1 1/2 furlongs to go, but Hotazhell and Wimbledown Hawkeye were closing fast from behind. Jockey Shane Foley took over with Hotazhell with about 100 meters to go, and Wimbledown Hawkeye soon met him. It came down to a head bob at the wire, and Hotazhell got his down at the opportune moment to secure the victory, completing 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.53 over good turf.
A 4-year-old son of Too Darn Hot (GB) bred in Great Britain by Blue Diamond Stud Farm, Hotazhell’s victory may have been a surprise in this field Saturday, but he has shown top-level ability throughout his career. Trained by Jessica Harrington, he was a Group 1 winner in England and was exiting a Group 1 score in Germany at the end of July.
Looking ahead to the Longines Turf, Hotazhell is now well proven at a high level over 1 1/4 miles, but his ability to get 1 1/2 miles is still yet to be seen. His one attempt at the distance came in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October, where he finished 10th over very soft ground.
A horse of higher quality than his 50-1 odds suggested, Hotazhell’s victory did show the depth in quality competing in Europe, and with Europeans recently shipping to the United States and winning Challenge Series races there, whichever representatives come across the pond to Keeneland will certainly be tough.
From the Press Association, Hotazhell’s trainer Jessica Harrington said,
She added: “He’s in the British Champion Stakes and that’s probably where he’ll go.
“We’ve really always thought the world of him. Last year was just one of those years, he should have won in America and he got a bad run around in the race. Things just didn’t go right for him.
“Even at the beginning of this year he took a while to get going. These races are hard to come by and when you get them enjoy them.
“He goes now from here to Ascot and then he’s going to go and be a stallion.
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