Estijaab claims Slipper

The most expensive horse in the Golden Slipper has won the world’s richest race for two-yearolds to give trainer John Hawkes a fourth win and jockey Brenton Avdulla a first.

Estijaab cost $1.7 million at the 2017 Easter Sale and also proved to be the fastest, flying out of her wide barrier to cross to the front and sustain the pressure over the 1200 metres of yesterday’s feature at Rosehill.

Hawkes trained Guineas (1997) and Forensics (2007) to win for Jack and Bob Ingham’s Woodlands Stud and Mossfun in 2014 in his public training partnership with his sons Michael and Wayne.

Like Mossfun, Estijaab is owned by Nasser Lootah’s Emirates Park Stud.

“Everybody went off her after the other day but you’ve got to have them peaking on the right day,” Hawkes said.

“It’s no good having them win the Slipper two weeks before.

“Her biggest attribute is her gate speed. She has shown us a lot from day one.

“They are all different and she doesn’t know how much she cost but it’s good to see the expensive ones win.”

Estijaab held off the fastfinishing Oohood ($17) by a long head with Sunlight ($5) another 11⁄4 lengths third for a fillies trifecta with Written By a close fourth.

The result was bittersweet for trainer Tony McEvoy, who trained the minor placegetters.

“I just wish we’d been a spot closer with Sunlight,” he said.

“She tried very hard and just wasn’t good enough on the day.”

All the honours were with Esitjaab and Avdullah, who celebrated his first win in what is considered one of the four major races in Australia along with the Cox Plate and Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.