Amongst the madness of Derby Day and Breeders Cup weekend was an outstanding result that has focused international attention on young Australian bloodstock agent, Justin Bahen.
The Group 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Filly Turf (1600m) was taken out in devastating style by Flotilla (pictured) .
A 2 year old filly by Mizzen Mast from Louvain by Sinndar, Flotilla was purchased from the Haras des Capucines draft at the 2011 ARQANA August Yearling Sale.
The filly sold for € 120,000 to Bahen Bloodstock in conjunction with world renowned Irish agent Hubie de Burgh.
It was Justin’s first visit to the ARQANA sales in Deauville, France and he fell in love with the athletic filly by Mizzen Mast, together with his new best friend Hubie they secured her on behalf of American Ed Swyer.
Flotilla is trained by rising star French trainer Mikel Delzangles, who is best known in Australia as the trainer of defending Melbourne Cup champion Dunaden.
The filly ran a nice 6th on debut at her home track of Chantilly and then went to Clairefontaine for a convincing win before stepping up to Group 3 level at her next start when she was an unlucky 5th.
Flotilla’s owners were approached by the Qatar Royal Family to buy the filly and the connections decided to take the money on offer.
Under her new ownership of H.H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Flotilla ran a great 4th in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac.
Such was the opinion of her trainer Delzangles, he decided to fly Flotilla to the USA for The Breeders Cup.
Delzangles who is based at Chantilly has proven how astute he is at travelling horses to compete at the highest level. His deeds in Australia are well known with Dunaden and Flotilla is another string to his expanding bow.
It gives you an idea of how international the racing industry has now become when an Australian agent flies to France, teams up with an Irish agent and buys a filly for an American, has it trained by a French trainer and then sells it to the Qatar Royal Family and it goes on to win the American Group1 Breeders Cup.
Huge congratulations must go to Justin Bahen and Hubie de Burgh for this outstanding success and no doubt Justin will be back at every ARQANA sale.
