the female flat jockey.

​Though no female jockey is yet to break the gold-glass ceiling of winning a British classic, though, of course, Holly Doyle has achieved the fete by winning the French Oaks on Nashwa, the steady rise of the female rider continues unabated. 
The ease in which Saffie Osborne has risen from new girl kid on the block to top-ten professional is impressive. Seemingly, Hollie Doyle had to fight tooth and nail to establish herself in the top echelon of the sport, whereas for Saffie it has been one seamless ascent. Of course, it was helpful to Saffie that her father is a winning trainer and was able to get her started and that she had a successful background in junior eventing, yet it was not her father who propelled her forward trajectory but the likes of Ed Walker and Charlie Hills who recognised her talent. This season, and perhaps the signature that underlines her arrival as one of the flat’s top jockeys, is that Sir Michael Stoute now regularly uses her on the occasions when Richard Kingscote and Ryan Moore are unavailable to him.
I was fortunate to see one of, if not her first, rides, at Ascot, if my memory is not playing tricks, and made the claim that she would make her name as a rider. Not that I expressed the opinion that she would become a leading light of the sport. All she needs now is that one big winner, not necessarily a classic but a race of significance. She has a Chester Cup to her name and a clutch of Group 3’s and listed races and with Royal Ascot just around corner where better place could there be to find that significant winner to take her career on to the next level.
As Saffie’s career, or at least season, is heading upwards, at present she is seventh in the jockeys’ championship, Holly Doyle is suffering a rare lapse in either form or fortune. She is only rarely seen at the major meetings this season and on occasions she is travelling long distances for as little as three-rides at minor meetings. What is more, a couple of Archie Watson’s best two-year-olds have been sold to Wathnan Racing, meaning she will lose those rides, perhaps at Royal Ascot, to the other Doyle, James. It is not what is needed when the winners are not flowing as in past seasons. Last year, it must be remembered, she rode two-winners at Royal Ascot. The other factor not aiding her cause this season is that Nashwa is off-games until the Autumn due to ‘taking a long time to get over her trip to the Middle East in the spring’ and that it looks like Trueshan may be past his best. Though on that front, the ground may be soft enough next week for the old boy to finally get his chance in the Ascot Gold Cup where the 20-furlongs will be greatly in his favour. Crossed-fingers for Holly next week.
The other favourable aspect as far as female jockeys are concerned is the return up the ranks for Josephine Gordon who is riding winners again at the same rate as when she was champion apprentice. She was recognised as a major talent back then and there is no reason to suggest she is not just as talented now. Hopefully, rides will come her way at Royal Ascot.
Jo Mason continues to display her considerable talent, especially when winning at Chester’s May meeting. She is, to my mind, the equal of most of the top jockeys and one day soon one of the top trainers will also recognise her talent. Certainly, William Haggas took note of her when she won a race at the Shergar Cup for him. Unlike the majority of her female contemporaries, she did not come through the apprentice ranks, though she is a proper horsewoman, with a background in most of the different forms of equestrianism, especially point-to-pointing. She is a brilliant jockey, with an insatiable work ethic, whose chirpy personality is just what the sport requires in this post-Dettori era. Hopefully she will get on a couple of fancied lightweights in the handicaps next week.
Of course, any discussion about female riders cannot leave out the Queen of female jockeys, the grand old lady Hayley Turner. As I have said before, when the next history of flat racing is written, Hayley deserves a short chapter all to herself, so influential has been her career to the ascent of the female jockey. On or off a horse, she is a wonderful ambassador for the sport and remains a supremely effective rider when she receives the opportunities her talent deserves. Next to Frankie, she is the face of Royal Ascot and it will be a sad day for racing when she next announces her retirement.
The list of able and effective female jockeys is at present longer than it has ever been, with the likes of Georga Dobie, Faye Macmanoman, Laura Pearson and many others making their mark in the sport. Though I shall not live long enough to witness the satisfaction, it is not many more years before all the major races will feature at least one female jockey involved, and that can only benefit the sport.