Elvstroem


Elvstroem was a bay Thoroughbred racehorse, by world champion sire Danehill from the former champion three-year-old filly, Circles of Gold.

Dam

Circles of Gold, is a 1991 chestnut mare by the Australasian Champion Sire and Broodmare sire Marscay. She was bred at Widden Stud, where her sire used to stand. Circles of Gold was purchased by McDonald's Licensees - Frank Tagg, Frank Meduri and Gary Moffitt at the sales and raced in their famous gold/white and red colours.
Circles of Gold faced the starter on 43 occasions, winning 6 and placing in a further a 13 races. Her most notable victory was the 1995 AJC Oaks, she also placed in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup of 1996 to the now deceased filly Arctic Scent, a race her son would capture in 2004. She was a winner of over $900,000 in stakes.
Her other progeny include Gold Rush, Lady Circles, Hveger, and Haradasun, winner of the 2007 Group 1 George Ryder Stakes and the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap.
Circles of Gold died at Segenhoe Stud aged 25 on 9 November 2016.

At the sales

Elvstroem sold for A$300,000.00 at the Inglis Sales of 2002 to leading South Coast trainer Bede Murray, however the sale fell through and he was returned to his breeders, McDonald's Licensees Frank Tagg, Frank Meduri and Gary Moffitt. Little did they realise that their Danehill colt would become one of Australia's best racehorses post 2000.

Racing career

Elvstroem was trained by Tony Vasil at Caulfield. He raced 32 times, winning 10 races and placing on 9 other occasions. His most notable victory came way in the 2004 Caulfield Cup where he beat the champion racemare Makybe Diva by a nose. Although he didn't win, his 4th in the Melbourne Cup on a track rated heavy is considered one of his best, due to him not being considered a chance of running.
His other major wins came way in the Group 1 VRC Derby of 2003, Group 1 MRC Underwood Stakes, Group 1 MRC C F Orr Stakes in 2005 and Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, held in 2005.
He won $5,722,274 in stakes, and won from distances of 1300 metres up to 2,500 metres. In races in which both he and Makybe Diva participated, he finished ahead of her the majority of the time.

Race record

ResultDateRaceVenueGroupDistanceWeight JockeyWinner/2nd
6th30 Aug 2003HDF McNeil StakesCaulfieldG31100 m54P. Mertens1st - Cahuita
2nd10 Sep 20033yo Hcp RestrictedBendigoNA1300 m56.5B. Prebble1st - Flash in the Pan
Won21 Sep 2003Guineas PreludeCaulfieldG31400 m54B. Prebble2nd - In Top Swing
5th11 Oct 2003Caulfield GuineasCaulfieldG11600 m55.5B. Prebble1st - In Top Swing
2nd25 Oct 2003AAMI VaseMoonee ValleyG22040 m55.5P. Payne1st - Kempinsky
Won1 Nov 2003Victoria DerbyFlemingtonG12500 m55.5D. Oliver2nd - Kempinsky
5th17 Jan 2004Zeditave StakesCaulfieldLR1200 m58P. Payne1st - St Elmo's Fire
3rd31 Jan 2004Debonair StakesFlemingtonG31410 m57.5D. Oliver1st - Starcraft
5th14 Feb 2004Australian GuineasFlemingtonG11600 m55.5D. Oliver1st - Reset
Won28 Feb 2004Autumn ClassicCaulfieldG21800 m55.5D. Oliver2nd - Delzao
3rd8 Mar 2004Australian CupFlemingtonG12000 m53.5D. Oliver1st - Lonhro
3rd27 Mar 2004Rosehill GuineasRosehillG12000 m56.5D. Oliver1st - Neillo
6th3 Apr 2004The BMW StakesRosehillG12400 m53.5D. Oliver1st - Grand Zulu
5th10 Apr 2004Australian DerbyRandwickG12400 m56.5P. Payne1st - Starcraft

ResultDateRaceVenueGroupDistanceWeight JockeyWinner/2nd
3rd7 Aug 2004Bletchingly StakesCaulfieldG31200 m57.5N. Rawiller1st - Le Zagaletta
5th21 Aug 2004J J Liston StakesCaulfieldG21400 m57.5N. Rawiller1st - Regal Roller
2nd4 Sep 2004Craiglee StakesFlemingtonG21600 m57.5N. Rawiller1st - Hugs Dancer
Won19 Sep 2004Underwood StakesCaulfieldG11800 m57N. Rawiller2nd - She's Archie
Won2 Oct 2004Turnbull StakesFlemingtonG22000 m57.5N. Rawiller2nd - Mummify
Won16 Oct 2004Caulfield CupCaulfieldG12400 m54N. Rawiller2nd - Makybe Diva
8th23 Oct 2004Cox PlateMoonee ValleyG12040 m56.5N. Rawiller1st - Savabeel
4th2 Nov 2004Melbourne CupFlemingtonG13200 m56.5N. Rawiller1st - Makybe Diva
Won12 Feb 2005C F Orr StakesCaulfieldG11400 m58N. Rawiller2nd - Savabeel
Won26 Feb 2005St George StakesCaulfieldG21800 m58N. Rawiller2nd - Makybe Diva
4th12 Mar 2005Australian CupFlemingtonG12000 m58N. Rawiller1st - Makybe Diva
Won26 Mar 2005Dubai Duty Free StakesDubaiG11800 m57N. Rawiller2nd - Whilly
9th24 Apr 2005Queen Elizabeth II CupSha TinG12000 m57N. Rawiller1st - Vengeance of Rain
4th14 May 2005Lockinge StakesNewburyG11600 m57N. Rawiller1st - Rakti
2nd22 May 2005Prix d'IspahanLongchampG11800 m58N. Rawiller1st - Valixir
3rd15 Jun 2005Prince of Wales's StakesYorkG12100 m57N. Rawiller1st - Azamour
4th26 Jun 2005Grand Prix de Saint-CloudSaint-CloudG1240058N. Rawiller1st - Alkaased

At stud

In 2005, Elvstroem retired to stud at Victoria's famed Blue Gum Stud Farm. The stud had been looking for a replacement after losing Encosta De Lago to Coolmore Stud the previous season. Blue Gum Stud has stood the stallions, Rubiton, Noalcoholic, Rancho Ruler and the consistent sire Umatilla.
In 2005 Elvstroem covered 166 mares, at A$38,500.00 per mare. His bookings included stakes producing mare Add Tinsel, stakes winner British Lion, Group 2 winner Climb The Vine, stakes producing mare Dangerous Seam, stakes producing mare Gabbing Glora, stakes producing mare Lottey, Group 3 winner Sunny Lane, Group 2 winner Tickle My, etc.
He is the sire of Carrara, winner of the 2009 BTC Doomben Slipper.

Pedigree