Success lives here

At Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Arrowfield Stud's incumbent Champion Australian Sire Snitzel (Redoute's Choice-Snippets' Lass, by Snippets) celebrated an elite race success when 2YO Australian-bred filly Estijaab (Snitzel-Response, by Charge Forward) utilised her brilliant natural speed to overcome her wide barrier and win the world's richest race for 2YOs, the $3.5 million Gr1 Golden Slipper (1200m), defeating fellow fillies Oohood & Sunlight. Co-trainer John Hawkes, who was celebrating his fourth Slipper success after the wins of Guineas (1997), Forensics (2007) and Mossfun (2104), was delighted to see Estijaab justify her hefty price tag on one of Australian racing's biggest days. "Everybody went off her after the other day but you've got have them peaking on the right day," Hawkes told Sky Racing. "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." Hawkes added: "She doesn't know how much she cost but it's good to see the expensive ones win." From the dual Gr1-winning mare Response (Charge Forward), Estijaab races in the green and white colours of Emirates Park who purchased her from the Arrowfield draft for $1.7 million at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She improved her record to 3 wins (including the Gr2 Reisling Stakes) and 1 placing (the Gr2 ATC Silver Slipper Stakes) from 4 starts for $2,335,075 in earnings. Estijaab is the 13th Group 1 winner by Snitzel and his 4th Gr1 winner this season after Trapeze Artist (Golden Rose), Redzel (Darley Classic) and Russian Revolution (Oakleigh Plate). She is also one of 7 Group 1 winners by Snitzel that have been sold as yearlings by Arrowfield, after Heavenly Blue, Hot Snitzel, Invader, Snitzerland, Sweet Idea & Wandjina.