Saffie Osborne has become the first female jockey to win one of British Flat racing’s five Classics, riding Highwayman to victory in the St Leger at Doncaster.

The 24-year-old burst clear of the field on the 11-1 chance in the closing stages to create history in the 250th anniversary of the world’s oldest Classic Flat race.

It was a one-two for winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, whose colt Enceladus (5-2) finished second, two-and-a-half lengths back.

Aidan O’Brien was bidding to become just the third trainer to win a fourth consecutive St Leger but had to be content with third with Amelia Earhart (22-1).

Pre-race favourite Christmas Day (7-4) was heavily backed to give Aidan O’Brien that historic fourth victory in a row and complete the Derby-St Leger double, but finished well down in ninth place.

“I definitely didn’t have this on the bingo card this week,” Osborne told ITV Sport immediately after the historic victory in the fifth and final Classic of the British Flat season.

“I didn’t even know if I would be riding the St Leger on Monday morning.”

No female jockey has won any of the other four Classics – the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Oaks and Derby at Epsom.

Osborne was quick to thank the trainer for giving her the ride, adding: “I have to thank Joseph and his team for putting their faith in me. It won’t change Joseph’s life, but it’s changed mine.”

Joseph O’Brien won the St Leger as a jockey on Leading Light in 2013 and claimed his first victory as a trainer in 2020 with Galileo Chrome.

Enceladus was expected to be his best chance to double his number of winners in the famous old race, having hit top form this season with three big victories, including in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

But Highwayman had also showed rapid improvement this year, especially in winning the Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown.