The 24-year-old will make her second appearance at Ascot’s Dubai Duty Free-sponsored team event as captain of the Britain and Ireland team18:39, 06 Aug 2026Saffie Osborne hopes her 2026 successes have proved she is on a path towards a future challenge for the jockeys’ championship.‌The 24-year-old will captain a Britain & Ireland team of Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle, both former or present champions, at tomorrow’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.‌Osborne has climbed to seventh in the jockeys standings with 40 wins this season while her prize-money earnings exceed her 2024 best, thanks to high profile victories in the Weatherbys Super Sprint and Moet & Chandon International.‌“Anyone that starts off in this job, not wanting to be champion jockey, shouldn't be doing it because it's so tough and gruelling that if you're not aiming to be at the top, then I don't know why you're really doing it, to be honest,” she said.“In 2024 I rode a large number of winners, but I lacked riding a top quality horse, which is starting to come now.“Then last year I was just plagued with problems. I got injured twice and I had to cut my season short just as it started to get going again.‌“It just felt like nothing was kind of clicking into the right place and then in the back of your mind you're hoping you haven't plateaued or reached the level of where you're going to be. I think this year has proved that's not the case.”She went on: “It started brilliantly in May when I think I had 20 winners, and it's just gone from strength to strength since. My weight has been so good this year, and that's been a huge help. I've managed to ride so many good horses for really great connections.”‌Osborne has a formidable record at Ascot, where she rode two winners on her only previous Shergar Cup appearance, landed her first Group winner at the track and rode a treble on King George day to take her total haul at the course to 21.“I have had a lot of luck there outside of the Royal meeting,” she said. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been going there since I was in a pram.”The Shergar Cup features some of the best in the world with Frida Valle Skar and Marie Velon joining Lemaire for Europe, Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris teaming up with Ho for Hong Kong and India’s Suraj Narredu and legend Yutake Take alongside Melham.‌Riders have been allocated rides by drawing lots for all six handicaps with points are awarded from 15 for winning, through 10, seven, five and three for fifth place, with Osborne’s best chance of a win from her five looking to be 7-4 shot Hoseki for William Haggas in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic.As team skipper Osborne is looking to emulate Jamie Spencer as the last captain of Great Britain and Ireland to lift the trophy and competition stalwart Hayley Turner as the last female rider to pick up the top jockey award, even if she is understating her talents ahead of raceday.Article continues below“To have Ryan for the first time in 20 years and to have Dylan Browne McMonagle riding for us who was champion jockey last year and who is having an incredible season this year is amazing,” she said.“Excluding me it is probably the strongest GB and Ireland team they have ever had.”