Europe’s Billy The Kid to start a stint in Australia in December

We have seen plenty of good European hoops in Australia in summers past but Billy Loughnane could surpass those. The horse racing bookmakers in the UK were quickly made to fear the young man as an apprentice. In Australia to further enhance his skills, he is one for punters to keep on side. 

Billy Loughnane boy wonder

Loughnane has ridden 162 winners in the UK in 2024. There are just two hoops that have ridden more. That followed up a year with 130 in 2023 and six in 2022 from a very limited book of rides.

It was evident two years ago at the age of 16 that Loughnane was a special talent. The majority of his early rides were for his father, trainer Mark Loughnane. Winner number one was on November 28 2022, saluting 298 times in the first two years of his career.

In April 2023, he would become the youngest jockey in more than 70 years to have a ride in a British Classic race. Just five months after riding his first winner, he was already being entrusted to ride in Group 1 races.

A slew of winners in 2023 was enough to see Loughnane win the champion apprentice title that year. He made his name initially on the all-weather surfaces, quickly showing that he has a great clock in his head despite his tender years.

How good is Billy Loughnane?

We all know Tom Marquand in Australia. He and William Haggas have enjoyed plenty of success over the past couple of years when they have sent runners here. Marquand rode seven more winners than Marquand in the 2024 flat jockeys championship in the UK with Tom having a few more rides.

Marquand had his first ride in 2014, riding a single winner that year. 67, 63 and 87 winners came the next three years, including a champion apprentice title in 2015. He took until 2020 to ride a Group 1 winner, Addeybb in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill.

Loughnane is yet to break his Group 1 duck but he already has a Royal Ascot win to his name, saluting in the Coventry Stakes earlier this year. His rate of winners far outstrips Marquand’s and while he has some way to go to hit that level of consistency, he is off to an incredible start.

Kensington on December 6 is slated to be the first race ride in Australia for Loughnane, with a trip to Rosehill the next day. That has the potential to put him straight into the limelight against the very best we have here.

Saffie Osborne another UK hoop in Australia 

Another smart UK hoop here for a stint is Saffie Osborne. Her dad Jamie is an ex-jump jockey and is now a trainer so she has been brought up in the sport. That has served her well as she has quickly become one of the most respected young hoops on the UK circuit.

She has been the top jockey in the UK’s Racing League series for three straight years as well as being part of the winning ladies team in the 2023 Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot. She had her first race ride in 2020, increasing her winning tally every year, riding 87 winners in the UK during 2024. She has a winner and a suspension already since arriving!

Whatever way you look at it, for a young man of just 18, Billy Loughnane has achieved a huge amount in a very short space of time. Just how much respect the betting sites in Australia give him early on will be interesting!