# Elvstroem

Elvstroem (14 November 2000 – 15 November 2024) 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 was 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 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 (most notable horses include Universal Prince and Victory Vein), 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 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 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 (6½ furlongs) up to 2,500 metres (12½ furlongs). In races in which both he and Makybe Diva participated, he finished ahead of her the majority of the time.

## Death

Elvstroem died in France on 15 November 2024, one day after his 24th birthday.

## Race record

2002–03 season as a two-year-old :
| Result | Date | Race | Venue | Group | Distance | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
| Won | 7 June 2003 | 2yo Hcp Restricted | Swan Hill | NA | 1300 m | 57 | E. Cassar | 2nd - Deep in the Woods |
2003–04 season as a three-year-old :
| Result | Date | Race | Venue | Group | Distance | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
| 6th | 30 August 2003 | HDF McNeil Stakes | Caulfield | G3 | 1100 m | 54 | P. Mertens | 1st - Cahuita |
| 2nd | 10 September 2003 | 3yo Hcp Restricted | Bendigo | NA | 1300 m | 56.5 | B. Prebble | 1st - Flash in the Pan |
| Won | 21 September 2003 | Guineas Prelude | Caulfield | G3 | 1400 m | 54 | B. Prebble | 2nd - In Top Swing |
| 5th | 11 October 2003 | Caulfield Guineas | Caulfield | G1 | 1600 m | 55.5 | B. Prebble | 1st - In Top Swing |
| 2nd | 25 October 2003 | AAMI Vase | Moonee Valley | G2 | 2040 m | 55.5 | P. Payne | 1st - Kempinsky |
| Won | 1 November 2003 | Victoria Derby | Flemington | G1 | 2500 m | 55.5 | D. Oliver | 2nd - Kempinsky |
| 5th | 17 January 2004 | Zeditave Stakes | Caulfield | LR | 1200 m | 58 | P. Payne | 1st - St Elmo's Fire |
| 3rd | 31 January 2004 | Debonair Stakes | Flemington | G3 | 1410 m | 57.5 | D. Oliver | 1st - Starcraft |
| 5th | 14 February 2004 | Australian Guineas | Flemington | G1 | 1600 m | 55.5 | D. Oliver | 1st - Reset |
| Won | 28 February 2004 | Autumn Classic | Caulfield | G2 | 1800 m | 55.5 | D. Oliver | 2nd - Delzao |
| 3rd | 8 March 2004 | Australian Cup | Flemington | G1 | 2000 m | 53.5 | D. Oliver | 1st - Lonhro |
| 3rd | 27 March 2004 | Rosehill Guineas | Rosehill | G1 | 2000 m | 56.5 | D. Oliver | 1st - Neillo |
| 6th | 3 April 2004 | The BMW Stakes | Rosehill | G1 | 2400 m | 53.5 | D. Oliver | 1st - Grand Zulu |
| 5th | 10 April 2004 | Australian Derby | Randwick | G1 | 2400 m | 56.5 | P. Payne | 1st - Starcraft |
2004–05 season as a four-year-old :
| Result | Date | Race | Venue | Group | Distance | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
| 3rd | 7 August 2004 | Bletchingly Stakes | Caulfield | G3 | 1200 m | 57.5 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Le Zagaletta |
| 5th | 21 August 2004 | J J Liston Stakes | Caulfield | G2 | 1400 m | 57.5 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Regal Roller |
| 2nd | 4 September 2004 | Craiglee Stakes | Flemington | G2 | 1600 m | 57.5 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Hugs Dancer |
| Won | 19 September 2004 | Underwood Stakes | Caulfield | G1 | 1800 m | 57 | N. Rawiller | 2nd - She's Archie |
| Won | 2 October 2004 | Turnbull Stakes | Flemington | G2 | 2000 m | 57.5 | N. Rawiller | 2nd - Mummify |
| Won | 16 October 2004 | Caulfield Cup | Caulfield | G1 | 2400 m | 54 | N. Rawiller | 2nd - Makybe Diva |
| 8th | 23 October 2004 | Cox Plate | Moonee Valley | G1 | 2040 m | 56.5 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Savabeel |
| 4th | 2 November 2004 | Melbourne Cup | Flemington | G1 | 3200 m | 56.5 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Makybe Diva |
| Won | 12 February 2005 | C F Orr Stakes | Caulfield | G1 | 1400 m | 58 | N. Rawiller | 2nd - Savabeel |
| Won | 26 February 2005 | St George Stakes | Caulfield | G2 | 1800 m | 58 | N. Rawiller | 2nd - Makybe Diva |
| 4th | 12 March 2005 | Australian Cup | Flemington | G1 | 2000 m | 58 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Makybe Diva |
| Won | 26 March 2005 | Dubai Duty Free Stakes | Dubai | G1 | 1800 m | 57 | N. Rawiller | 2nd - Whilly |
| 9th | 24 April 2005 | Queen Elizabeth II Cup | Sha Tin | G1 | 2000 m | 57 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Vengeance of Rain |
| 4th | 14 May 2005 | Lockinge Stakes | Newbury | G1 | 1600 m | 57 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Rakti |
| 2nd | 22 May 2005 | Prix d'Ispahan | Longchamp | G1 | 1800 m | 58 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Valixir |
| 3rd | 15 June 2005 | Prince of Wales's Stakes | York | G1 | 2100 m | 57 | N. Rawiller | 1st - Azamour |
| 4th | 26 June 2005 | Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud | Saint-Cloud | G1 | 2400 | 58 | N. Rawiller | 1st - 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 (now deceased), 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 (dam of Caulfield Cup placegetter/stakes winner Celestial Show & Fashion Victim), stakes winner British Lion, Group 2 winner Climb The Vine, stakes producing mare Dangerous Seam (dam of Real Jester & Seidnazar), stakes producing mare Gabbing Glora (dam of Caulfield Cup Australasian record holder Diatribe), stakes producing mare Lottey (dam of Gold 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.
In 2016 he joined the Haras du Petit Tellier thoroughbred breeding farm in Sévigny, Orne, France.

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Elvstroem (Aus) :
| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Northern Dancer (Can) 1961 | Nearctic (Can) |
| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Northern Dancer (Can) 1961 | Natalma (USA) |
| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Pas de Nom (USA) 1968 | Admiral's Voyage (USA) |
| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Pas de Nom (USA) 1968 | Petitioner (GB) |
| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 | Razyana (USA) 1981 | His Majesty (USA) 1968 | Ribot (GB) |
| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 | Razyana (USA) 1981 | His Majesty (USA) 1968 | Flower Bowl (USA) |
| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 | Razyana (USA) 1981 | Spring Adieu (Can) 1974 | Buckpasser (USA) |
| Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 | Razyana (USA) 1981 | Spring Adieu (Can) 1974 | Natalma (USA) |
| Dam Circles of Gold (Aus) 1991 | Marscay (Aus) 1979 | Biscay (Aus) 1965 | Star Kingdom (Ire) |
| Dam Circles of Gold (Aus) 1991 | Marscay (Aus) 1979 | Biscay (Aus) 1965 | Magic Symbol (Aus) |
| Dam Circles of Gold (Aus) 1991 | Marscay (Aus) 1979 | Heart of Market (USA) 1967 | To Market (USA) |
| Dam Circles of Gold (Aus) 1991 | Marscay (Aus) 1979 | Heart of Market (USA) 1967 | Accroche Coeur (USA) |
| Dam Circles of Gold (Aus) 1991 | Olympic Aim (NZ) 1983 | Zamazaan (Fr) 1965 | Exbury (Fr) |
| Dam Circles of Gold (Aus) 1991 | Olympic Aim (NZ) 1983 | Zamazaan (Fr) 1965 | Toyama (Ire) |
| Dam Circles of Gold (Aus) 1991 | Olympic Aim (NZ) 1983 | Gold Vink (NZ) 1966 | Gold Sovereign (GB) |
| Dam Circles of Gold (Aus) 1991 | Olympic Aim (NZ) 1983 | Gold Vink (NZ) 1966 | Goudvink (NZ) |