Elvis was good enough to beat champion mare Maykbe Diva, not once, but twice

Elvstroem sold for A$300,000 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. Elvstroem was named after the great Danish yachtsman Paul Elvstroem, who was the first individual competitor to win gold medals in four successive Olympic games (from 1948 to 1960). Tagg bought Elvstroem's dam, Circles Of Gold (Marscay) as a yearling for  $A50,000 at the Sydney Easter Sales in 1993. As a racehorse, Circles Of Gold was top class, winning the ATC Oaks and finishing second in a Caulfield Cup, but it was as a broodmare that she proved to be in an absolute class of her own. In fact she was probably one of the most successful broodmares in Australian racing over the past two decades. Along with Elvstroem she also foaled Haradasun who won the 2007 Group One Doncaster Handicap, George Ryder Stakes in Australia and the Queen Anne Stakes in Britain in 2008. Circles Of Gold is also the granddam of star international galloper Highland Reel, who won the Breeders Cup Turf, and also Idaho, who was placed in the English and Irish Derby's.

From the time he was broken in the colt displayed above average ability and Tony knew he had something special. Vasil certainly was right, with Elvstroem among the best of his three-year-old crop in 2003, winning the VRC Derby, and a four times Group one winner as a four-year-old. Elvstroem raced 32 times, winning 10 races and placing on 9 other occasions. His most notable victory came way in the 2004 Gr.1 Caulfield Cup where he beat the champion racemare Makybe Diva by a nose. An inspired frontrunning ride by Nash Rawiller gave him and trainer Tony Vasil their first victories in the Cup. Vasil said there was no set plan to lead but when there wasn't early speed in the race, Rawiller used his initiative to take Elvstroem to the front. It was also an emotional moment for Vasil, whose father John was killed in a hurdle race at Bacchus Marsh in 1959 when he was a baby. Elvstroem became the first Victoria Derby winner to win the Caulfield Cup the following season since Manfred in 1926. Only three horses have achieved the feat, the other being Poseidon in 1907. As a four-year-old, the Danehill entire claimed another black type race for his resume with a stirring win over Makybe Diva once again in the 2005, $200,000, Gr.2 WFA Carlton Draught St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

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 Gr.1 VRC Derby of 2003, Gr.1 Underwood Stakes, Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes in 2005 and Gr.1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at  the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, held in 2005. Elvstroem, finished a four-time Australian G1 winner who was sent on an international quest then retired from racing for stallion duty at Blue Gum Stud in Euroa in the Australian province of Victoria. Nicknamed Elvis, the 4-year-old Australian-bred son of Danehill last raced in the June 26 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in France and finished fourth. Elvstroem raced four times at the Group I level in Europe, with his best efforts coming in placings in the Prince of Wales's Stakes in England and the Prix d'Ispahan in France. His dam, Circles Of Gold passed away in 2016 aged 25.

RACE RECORD - 32: 10-4-5
EARNINGS - A$5,722,274

Victoria Derby (2003)
Caulfield Cup (2004)
Underwood Stakes (2004)
C F Orr Stakes (2005)
St George Stakes (2005)
Dubai Duty Free Stakes (2005)