Emirates Park paid $1.7million for a Snitzel filly at the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale that went on to become Golden Slipper winner Estijaab and she featured at Caulfield on Wednesday as the dam of promising winner Ertijaaj (GB).
Estijaab started her stud career in Europe for Emirates Park and her first foal is stakes-placed Frankel filly Ejaabiyah and her second is the Night of Thunder filly Ertijaaj, who had one start in the UK last year for a third placing at Haydock in June before being sent out to Australia.
Placed in the care of champion trainer Chris Waller, Ertijaaj was having her first Australian start in the 1500m maiden and produced an impressive win.
She settled last for Ben Melham and looped the field rounding the turn to kick away and win by half a length.
“Obviously a well-bred filly, I sat on her for the first time at the trials the other day,” Ben Melham said after the win.
“Little bit aggressive, still a little raw – good natural talent, but just a work in progress. She made good improvement from that trial.
“I felt she had the race at her mercy at any stage, rounded them up very quickly, and just got lost when she got to the front.
“We’re just trying to go quietly with her and teach her to race the right way around. She was able to tick the box here today with a metropolitan win.
“I’m sure the more she progresses into her career, the better she’ll be.”
Ertijaaj is the second foal and second winner for Champion 2YO Estijaab, whose third foal is an unraced two year-old colt by Gun Runner that sold at Magic Millions in 2025 for $500,000 to PR Thoroughbreds and has been named Arms Trader.
She is in the right stable to progress and Ertijaaj may have better wins in store.
Estijaab is back in Australia now as is her first born daughter Ejaabiyah.
Estijaab produced a filly by Tassort last spring before going to Too Darn Hot (GB) and Ejaabiyah was covered by I Am Invincible in her first season at stud.
