Ertijaaj on Debut in Australia

Estijaab dam of Ertijaaj winning 2018 Golden Slipper

Ertijaaj announced herself as a mare of significant promise at Caulfield on Wednesday, delivering a breakthrough performance for champion trainer Chris

Waller and her high-profile ownership team of Emirates Park and Nasser Lootah.

The British-bred four-year-old, a daughter of Night of Thunder, arrived in Australia with quiet credentials but an intriguing pedigree. Bred by Emirates Park and out of Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab, she had shown ability in limited opportunities overseas, finishing third at her only start in the United Kingdom for Roger Varian before being transferred to Australia.

Now under the care of Waller, Ertijaaj’s progression has been carefully managed. After trial appearances in Melbourne and a settling-in period within the stable, she stepped out at Caulfield with just that single UK run to her name, making her performance all the more noteworthy.

Settled off the pace, Ertijaaj travelled strongly throughout before producing a decisive finishing effort, suggesting both maturity and adaptability—traits often associated with the Waller system. The victory not only marked her first success but also hinted at the upside expected from a mare with such an elite maternal lineage.

Her dam, Estijaab, was one of the most precocious juveniles of her generation, capturing the Golden Slipper and establishing herself as a high-value broodmare prospect. That influence was evident in Ertijaaj’s turn of foot, even if her racing style suggests she may ultimately appreciate distances beyond sprint trips.

Owned by Emirates Park, managed by Nasser Lootah, the mare represents a continued investment in international bloodstock with the aim of developing top-tier performers in Australia. Her journey—from Great Britain to the powerful Waller stable—reflects a growing trend of sourcing lightly raced European talent and giving them time to acclimatise before targeting local success.

While still early in her career, Ertijaaj’s Caulfield win positions her as a horse to follow. With natural improvement likely and the benefit of Waller’s training regime, she appears capable of rising through the grades, potentially rewarding the patience shown by her connections.

For now, the victory serves as both a milestone and a signal: Ertijaaj has arrived, and her story in Australia may just be beginning.