Blue Gum Farm

Elvstroem’s Time To Shine
When Elvstroem first retired to stud, the general consensus on the stud prospects of the five time Group 1 winning son of Danehill was that he would get the odd two-year-old, but that his stock would begin to shine at three. Having finished the season as the leading First Season sire in Victoria and with a top 10 finish on the Australian First Season Sires list, it can safely be said that Elvstroem exceeded expectations with his first runners.

So with Spring just upon us, it is even more satisfying to report that Elvstroem’s stock have hit the ground running. Frank Tagg's high-class colt Carrara showed he had returned to competition in great heart with a dominant performance to win the $100,000 Essendon Nissan Stakes (Listed) over 1200m at Moonee Valley on August 22nd.

Carrara wins at Moonee Valley

Carrara added a second stakes victory to his record despite a torrid run in transit. Jumping from barrier six, he was forced to race three-wide for the early part of the race before showing his class by accelerating away from his rivals at the top of the straight. Carrara needed only the minimum of urging from Nicholas Hall to defeat Umanugget - whose dam is by our own stalwart Umatilla - by 1¼ lengths in a one, two finish for Blue Gum stallions in one of the feature races for three-year-old colts this Spring.

Trainer Tony Vasil revealed after the race that Carrara’s victory in the Doomben Slipper (Listed) on a heavy track had flattened him for the remainder of the winter carnival. His subsequent two placings in stakes company are testament to the toughness of the son of Elvstroem. However Carrara quickly returned to his best in preparation for his latest assignment. “I actually rode him in a trial on Tuesday and he gave me a great feel," Vasil told TVN after the race.

"He's a brilliant beginner, almost as good as Super Elegant out of the gates, so I said to Nick (Hall) to try and capitalise on that early speed but he got posted three deep through no fault of his own and had no favours in the run. He showed a bit of grit in the straight, he's a very good workmanlike horse," he added.

By Elvstroem out of the Hurricane Sky mare Crystal Sprite, Carrara was a $200,000 purchase from the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was bred by Jim and June Anderson who have been great supporters of Elvstroem and Blue Gum Farm. Carrara’s next assignment will be in the Henry Bucks Plate at Flemington on September 5 with all concerned being hopeful that Carrara will go on and be a real force in the Group One Caulfield Guineas in October.

With the new season two-year-olds not too far off stepping out, Gai Waterhouse has already told us that she has a high opinion of Actrice, a two year old filly out of the Armidale mare Jolie who won two in Sydney as a two year old. Gai purchased this Elvstroem filly at the Magic Millions yearling sale in January and is hopeful of her playing a part in the early Spring juvenile contests.

Elvstroem is understandably proving very popular with breeders for 2009 season and he is looking in magnificent condition as the start of his working year approaches.


		Elvstroem’s Time To Shine
"He's a brilliant beginner, almost as good as Super Elegant out of the gates, so I said to Nick (Hall) to try and capitalise on that early speed but he got posted three deep through no fault of his own and had no favours in the run. He showed a bit of grit in the straight, he's a very good workmanlike horse,"		Elvstroem’s Time To Shine When Elvstroem first retired to stud, the general consensus on the stud prospects of the five time Group 1 winning son of Danehill was that he would get the odd two-year-old, but that his stock would begin to shine at three. Having finished the season as the leading First Season sire in Victoria and with a top 10 finish on the Australian First Season Sires list, it can safely be said that Elvstroem exceeded expectations with his first runners. So with Spring just upon us, it is even more satisfying to report that Elvstroem’s stock have hit the ground running. Frank Tagg's high-class colt Carrara showed he had returned to competition in great heart with a dominant performance to win the $100,000 Essendon Nissan Stakes (Listed) over 1200m at Moonee Valley on August 22nd. Carrara wins at Moonee Valley Carrara added a second stakes victory to his record despite a torrid run in transit. Jumping from barrier six, he was forced to race three-wide for the early part of the race before showing his class by accelerating away from his rivals at the top of the straight. Carrara needed only the minimum of urging from Nicholas Hall to defeat Umanugget - whose dam is by our own stalwart Umatilla - by 1¼ lengths in a one, two finish for Blue Gum stallions in one of the feature races for three-year-old colts this Spring. Trainer Tony Vasil revealed after the race that Carrara’s victory in the Doomben Slipper (Listed) on a heavy track had flattened him for the remainder of the winter carnival. His subsequent two placings in stakes company are testament to the toughness of the son of Elvstroem. However Carrara quickly returned to his best in preparation for his latest assignment. “I actually rode him in a trial on Tuesday and he gave me a great feel," Vasil told TVN after the race. "He's a brilliant beginner, almost as good as Super Elegant out of the gates, so I said to Nick (Hall) to try and capitalise on that early speed but he got posted three deep through no fault of his own and had no favours in the run. He showed a bit of grit in the straight, he's a very good workmanlike horse," he added. By Elvstroem out of the Hurricane Sky mare Crystal Sprite, Carrara was a $200,000 purchase from the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was bred by Jim and June Anderson who have been great supporters of Elvstroem and Blue Gum Farm. Carrara’s next assignment will be in the Henry Bucks Plate at Flemington on September 5 with all concerned being hopeful that Carrara will go on and be a real force in the Group One Caulfield Guineas in October. With the new season two-year-olds not too far off stepping out, Gai Waterhouse has already told us that she has a high opinion of Actrice, a two year old filly out of the Armidale mare Jolie who won two in Sydney as a two year old. Gai purchased this Elvstroem filly at the Magic Millions yearling sale in January and is hopeful of her playing a part in the early Spring juvenile contests. Elvstroem is understandably proving very popular with breeders for 2009 season and he is looking in magnificent condition as the start of his working year approaches.