Globetrotting Australian champion Elvstroem has died aged 24 at Haras de Petit De Tellier in Normandy, France.
The five-time Group 1-winning son of Danehill had been permanently based in France since 2016, serving small books of mares at his home stud up until this year.
The Straight has been told that Elvstroem passed away in his sleep, with data in the French studbook confirming that he died last Friday.
Bred by Frank Tagg, Frank Meduri and Gary Moffitt, Elvstroem was out of Australian Oaks-winning mare Circles Of Gold. Initially sold for $300,000 as yearling in 2002, that sale was never finalised and he remained in the ownership of his breeders under the Arch Of Gold syndicate.
It proved fortuitous as they retained a colt that under Tony Vasil’s care, developed into a champion.
His debut victory came at Swan Hill in June 2003, with that race to be eventually renamed the Elvstreom Classic in his honour. He quickly graduated in class and won a memorable Victoria Derby that spring, with Damien Oliver in the saddle, defeating Kempinsky.
The following spring he claimed his second Group 1 in the Underwood Stakes, before doing what his dam narrowly missed out on in 1996, and winning the Caulfield Cup, defeating champion mare Makybe Diva.
He finished a brave fourth behind the mare in the second of her three Melbourne Cup victories.
Elvstroem returned in the autumn and showed his versatility by winning the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes over 1400 metres before heading to Dubai, where he created history as the first, and to this point only – Australian horse to win what was known as the Dubai Duty Free, now the Dubai Turf.
He then competed in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and France in his final campaign, twice placing in Group 1 races against the best European opposition.
In 2005, he retired to Blue Gum Farm in Victoria, where he stood until he was sold to France in 2015.
Elvstroem wins the 2003 Victoria Derby. (Vision: YouTube)
Starting out at a service fee of $38,500, Elvstroem’s breeding career began well with 10 stakes winners out of his first three crops, including Group 2-winning trio Carrara, Outback Joe and Go The Knuckle.
His sole Group 1 winner, Hucklebuck, came from his fifth crop, but by that time, his popularity was on the wane, and his numbers dwindled until his sale to Haras de Petit De Tellier in Normandy.
He began brightly there with 68 coverings in his first year and while his numbers dropped away, he did produce a French Listed winner in Watch Him.
Elvstroem takes out the 2005 Dubai Duty Free in 2005. (Vision: YouTube)
As things stand, Elvstroem has had 362 winners from 629 starters, with 13 stakes winners and progeny earnings of over $30 million. He has had winners in 19 different countries.
The lion’s share of his success came in Australia, where he had 292 winners, including 10 stakes winners.
His younger half-brother Haradasun, who also ran in the Arch Of Gold colours, was also an international winner, claiming two Group 1s in Australia and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.
He spent time at Coolmore Australia before moving to Grangewilliam Stud until he died in 2019.
The influence of Circles Of Gold lives on through her grandsons, Highland Reel, who is standing at stud in Japan, Cape of Good Hope, who resides at Bombora Downs in Victoria, and Idaho, a national hunt sire in Ireland.
