Patinack Farm celebrated its first win in Europe when Hafjell won on debut at Cholet in France last Sunday.

Hafjell was bred in Ireland and was purchased by agent Bertrand Le Metayer for 140,000 euros (AUD 235,638) on behalf of Nathan Tinkler at the Arqana yearling sale in August 2008.

The Richard Gibson trained filly won the Prix AXA Assurance (2100m) defeating USA bred filly Golden Bottle (Giant’s Causeway) by 2.5 lengths.

Hafjell is by Darley’s Danehill shuttler Tiger Hill from Lille Hammer (Sadler’s Wells) who was a Listed winner of the Harvest Stakes at Ascot.  The dam has now foaled 8 winners and, so far, the best of them has been Olimpic Girl (Darshaan) who was a Listed winner of the Prix Urban Sea at Le Lion-d’Angers.

Hafjell was one of three yearlings Bertrand Le Metayer bought for Tinkler at the 2008 Arqana Sale.  Top priced among the trio was a 770,000 euros (AUD 1.29 million) Galileo colt out of Olimpic Girl.  He has been named Tall Poppy and is also in training with Gibson.