Estijaab drifts despite her record time

WINNING her final Golden Slipper audition in race record time couldn’t save Estijaab from drifting in the market for the world’s richest race for two-year- olds.

The Snitzel filly claimed the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick yesterday and although she beat English’s 2015 time benchmark, Sunlight firmed as favourite for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill in a fortnight.

Estijaab was runner up to Sunlight by a neck when they clashed in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) last month and was a $5 Golden Slipper chance before leading all the way in the Reisling Stakes.

However, after holding off outsiders Pure Elation ($18) and debutant Sister Sledge ($81), she was quoted a $6 chance while Sunlight shortened from $4.60 to $4.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes was unfazed by the Slipper market after Estijaab clocked 1:09.10 to erase English’s time of 1:10.19.

“It’s all about winning. How much more do you have to improve? She ran 1.09,” he said.

“Today was about looking after her and helping her and just getting the job done.”

Estijaab, the $1.40 favourite, used her trademark gate speed to set the tempo under Brenton Avdulla and she was never under threat before hitting the line a long neck clear of the Peter and Paul Snowdentrained Pure Elation.