Blue Gum Farm

The European season is in full swing and last Friday saw a major update for our champion miler Astronomer Royal. The prestigious Solario Stakes (Gr 3) at Sandown was won in good style by the Ed Dunlop-trained Native Khan, a son of Azamour and whose dam Viva Maria (Kendor) is currently in foal to Astronomer Royal (USA).

The Solario has been won by the likes of Ravens Pass, Sri Putra and Shakespearean in recent years and the classic progress of Native Khan will only further emphasise the market acceptance of Astronomer Royal.

The Champion 3yo Miler in France, Astronomer Royal's first foals are arriving here in Australia and we have been getting extremely favourable reports. At a fee of just $8,800 in 2010 he surely represents the best value of any second season stallion in the country. Aug 23

It may be Winter but this is an exciting time of the year with the Spring on our doorstep. The first-crop of Churchill Downs sold extremely well earlier this year around Australia and the early reports from those that purchased are positive indeed. We have been speaking to some of those with Churchill Downs 2yo's and will continue to let you know their thoughts as the weeks progress. Aug 17

"He (Churchill Downs) was a very handsome yearling himself and had serious ability too. I bid on a dozen or so of his progeny and I've ended up with three. I'm absolutely delighted with the way they have broken in" David Hayes, who trained Churchill Downs

"Dominant sons of Danehill haven't missed and we set our sights to buy the best colt by Churchill Downs and we think we got him ($140,000 Weekend Surprise). The horse has a terrific temperament and a lovely free-flowing action." Mark Pilkington

Churchill Downs ended the Premier Sale as the leading Victorian-based sire by average; the leading first-season sire by average on the Premier 1 session and he was the most profitable stallion ($10,000 or more) across the entire sale with a ratio of nearly five times conception fee.

His yearlings sold for $150,000, $140,000, $135,000, $110,000, $80,000, $70,000 - twice, $65,000 and they have found favour with leading trainers such as David Hayes, who trained Churchill Downs himself, Peter Moody, Mick Price, Anthony Cummings, Shane Fliedner, John Hawkes, Robbie Griffiths and Steve Richards.

UPDATE: Churchill Downs 2yo colt out of Gur sells for $120,000 to De Burgh Equine on behalf of a Dubai-based syndicate at the BC3 Sale at Oaklands.

Our dual Group 1 winner Turffontein will be at Oaklands on Thursday as part of the first-season sire parade prior to the sale. We look forward to seeing you there, showing you the horse and discussing your plans for the season. Aug 16

We have been getting rave reviews and seeing photographic evidence of the quality of foal that Astronomer Royal (USA) is leaving around Europe so we have been eagerly awaiting the first foal here at Blue Gum. He duly arrived at the weekend and we can see for ourselves why European breeders are getting so excited. Swirly Dream delivered her first foal at the weekend, a chestnut colt, and he's in excellent shape. "He's strong, well made and a good size," reports BGF Operations Manager Susan Keating. "He has great bone and already displaying some good character so everyone here on the farm is excited."

Swirly Dream is typical of the standard of mare that the French 2000 Guineas winner served in his first Australian season. The winner of over $100,000 on the track and runner-up in the Adelaide Magic Millions Juvenile, Swirly Dream is a half-sister to the Group 1 winning sprinter Padstow and is also booked to return to Astronomer Royal this season.

"The level of breeder interest has been strong for the horse so far, especially considering his fee this season of just $8,800," Keating continues. "and with foals of this standard, once breeders see the quality of stock he can produce then the figure becomes even more attractive." Aug 1

Along with the rest of Australia we cheered when Elsvstroem's close relative Starspandledbanner charged to Group 1 success at Royal Ascot and Newmarket. With the news that Starspangledbanner is to remain in the Northern Hemisphere and miss the 2010 Australian breeding season then breeders are fortunate to have a proven Group-1 sire like Elvstroem available.

Starspangledbanner is a great grandson of Danehill and has Olympic Aim as his third-dam while Elvstroem is by Danehill with Olympic Aim as his granddam.

The leading second-crop sire in Victoria this season, Elvstroem's offspring are running with real gusto of late. The 5-time Group 1 winner has metropoloitan winners Viva Las, Dorsoduro and last week saw Rockabilly Kid win impressively in Brisbane.

So good luck in the Breeders' Cup Starspangledbanner, we'll be cheering for you. July 27

Rubiton recently sired his 40th stakeswinner and he rang up another milestone last weekend when Sweet Miss Ruby became his 500th winner. Trained at Flemington by Nigel Blackiston, SWEET MISS RUBY came away to score by five lengths and is one of 739 runners for Rubiton who boasts a strike-rate of 67.65% for winners to runners - that is some feat and a lasting testament to the class and courage Rubiton imparted to his offspring. July 26

Crossley always showed plenty of ability in Australia, so much so that the lucrative Asian market came calling for the then three-year-old. Now racing in Macau as Crown Indicator, the son of Elvstroem is fast making an impression with a win and a second from his only strats.

Last Saturday, Crown Indicator was sent out a $2.6 favourite in light of his good second placing in the Lisboa Challenge on debut.

Given the run of the race by Manoel Nunes from barrier four, Crown Indicator quickened up like a very smart horse to dart through on the inside of the pace maker Best Treasure at the 200m to race away and win easily from Clown Master with Jylland in third.

Trainer Kim Cheong has a big opinion of Crown Indicator who is raced by his long time client Mr Tam Vai Lam, who purchased the three year old gelding from Australia on the advice of a friend.

“Mr Tam was recommended the horse after he ran second at Moonee Valley in Melbourne.” Cheong said. “We were lucky that he did not win that race otherwise we would not have been able to buy him.”

Cheong revealed that his original plan with Crown Indicator was to win the Lisboa Challenge first up, but a three week delay in the shipment arriving curtailed his plans.

“I knew I had one of the best three year olds in Macau, but with the shipment being delayed three weeks it meant the horse was only about 70 % ready for that race.”

Cheong is in no rush with the son of former Champion Australian racehorse Elvstroem stating that the horse will probably not race again until the end of August, then embark on a long range plan with the Derby in mind.

Even though he is sadly no longer with us, RUBITON continues to rack up milestones. Yesterday at Rosehill, MR UNFORGETTABLE became the 40th individual stakeswinner for Rubiton when winning the Winter Stakes.

Himself the winner of the W S Cox Plate, Futurity, Underwood and Mackinnon Stakes at Group 1 level, Rubiton's 40 stakeswinners have accumulated 105 stakes races, headed by Group 1 winners Fields Of Omagh, Adam, who is at stud not far from us at High Lane Farm in Euroa, Flavour, Patezza, Rubitano, Ruby Clipper and Rubiscent. July 18.

If patience is a virtue then we and our partners are virtuous indeed. Today at Geelong OLAZABAL made a winning return to the races at Geelong, travelling strongly all the way and then quickening up in fine style to go clear in the straight to win over 1200m.

About to turn five, Olazabal (Encosta de Lago - Lottey) has been consistent but a series of little niggling injuries have restricted him to just nine starts for trainer Mick Price. Mentally the horse has matured also so it is with a degree of optimism that we look forward to the rest of this preparation.

Enthusiastic partners Bill and Vera Brindle were on hand to welcome Olazabal back to the winners' circle and were thrilled with the win. "It's better than scoring a goal for England!" declared Billy, who played Division 1 football for Merseyside giants Everton in his youth.

Olazabal narrowly failed to win at Moonee Valley last time in and we are hopeful he can rectify that. Winning jockey Ben Knobel certainly thinks so, "He travelled good all the way, I think he can definitely win in town." July 16

Three winners in two days for Elvstroem and a two-state metropolitan double on Saturday at Randwick and Flemington highlight the ability of Elvstroem to deliver. Frank Tagg's good filly DORSODURO had already won in Adelaide as a juvenile and she proved too good for her rivals at Flemington while the John O'Shea trainee VIVA LAS had also won on debut in Sydney as a juvenile and she proved too strong for older horses in winning at a rain sodden Randwick.

"She's a nice filly and still has a bit to learn," observed O'Shea of Viva Las. "She did well today and she's beaten older horses. I don't see why she can't get over a bit further, we just need to get her to settle a bit in the early stages."

Elvstroem is establishing himself as a source of both speed and stamina and the courageous displays of both fillies in difficult conditions today show that both have inherited plenty of their sire's fighting qualities.

Elvstroem represents amazing value at his 2010 fee of $16,500, especially considering he has 181 2yo's to race for him in the 2010/11 season. July 10

Patinack Farm's Meddler (3 f Elvstroem - Lettercee) produced an electric finish to score in Monday's $40,000 Balmoral Handicap over 1100 metres for fillies on the Kensington track at Randwick. Waited with off the early speed, Meddler burst through between horses in the straight to dash clear and go on to score a most impressive victory, coming right away to defeat Forward Miss by a widening four lengths.

Meddler was making her first start since May 7 and the three-year-old has now won three of her nine starts, two of them in Sydney and in Brisbane.

This is yet another example of the effectiveness of Elvstroem, whose 2010 fee of $16,500 (inclusive of gst) surely must make him the best value 'Group 1' stallion in Victoria. June 14.

With the distances of the three-year-old races stretching out it is pleasing to see that the stock of Elvstroem are appreciating that extra trip.

This afternoon at Sandown Park, Elvstroem's daughter's DELIVER THE DREAM and EL SPARK fought out the finish of the $30,000 Charge Forward@Arrowfield Handicap over 1800m.

Under 58kg, Deliver The Dream was prominent all the way and then stayed on bravely in the straight to hold the final rally from El Spark, who was burdened with top-weight of 59kg in the heavy conditions.

“She still has plenty to learn but I think she might be up to stakes class,” Moody’s stable foreman Tony Haydon said of Deliver The Dream. “She’s a reasonable lump of a filly but once she fills out, she’s going to be a handy type. With her breeding, she’s always going to improve with age.

“I’m not sure what Peter (Moody) is going to do whether to spell her or not but she’s going places.”

Deliver The Dream was bred by good friends of Blue Gum in Doug and Helen Harrison, out of their former good racemare Fayrouz, who is now two twinners from two to the track.

The breeding stock sale season is now in full swing and the results are a major indicator of market acceptance for stallions and therefore of extreme importance to breeders.

Blue Gum Farm’s young French Classic winner Astronomer Royal (USA) has had his first mares in-foal sell in 2010 and the results are more than encouraging for breeders. For first-season stallions standing in Victoria, the figures returned by Astronomer Royal mark him as a stallion to watch.

Mares in foal to Astronomer Royal at the Australian Easter Broodmare Sale in Sydney realised as much as $240,000 and $200,000 and averaged $99,500 for the six mares sold there. This is against a sale average of $64,779 at the premier breeding stock sale in the country!

At the recently completed Great Southern Sale, 10 mares sold in foal with prices of $46,000, $45,000 and $36,000 twice. The sale average of mares in foal to Astronomer Royal finished at $29,150 – almost four times the sale broodmare average of $7,580.

Figures don’t lie and these results are all the more relevant considering that Astronomer Royal is available to breeders in 2010 at a fee of$8,800 including gst.

“We couldn’t be happier at the market acceptance of Astronomer Royal,” Blue Gum Farm principal Philip Campbell says. “He was supported with some really lovely mares in his first season and they have now sold accordingly.

“It’s relevant also that his first foals are arriving to rave reviews in France and the level of interest inthe horse there is on a real high as a result of the quality of foal he is leaving. We can’t wait to see his first crop arriving here at Blue Gum.”

The Champion 3yo Male Miler in France of 2007, Astronomer Royal won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains – French 2000 Guineas (Gr 1) and of all the sons of Danzig imported into Australia he bears the closest race profile to Danehill, contesting races like the 2000 Guineas and premier sprints like the July Cup.

“He is from the last crop of Danzig and he is a classic winner with flawless physique that he is passing on to his stock so the fact that the market is aware of his qualities should not surprise.” Campbell concludes. May 23

Elvstroem continues to add to his tally of stakes performers with two promising fillies running well at the weekend.

Miss Elvee (2 f Luxapal) looked unlucky to bump into Lee Freedman debutant Smokin' Joey in the Blue Sapphire Stakes (Listed) at Caulfield and she had to settle for second - the same placing achieved by Carrara last season.

Trainer Robbie Griffiths has a high opinion of Miss Elvee who has only raced twice and looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement.

In Adelaide on 'Super Sunday' Michael Kent's high opinion of El Spark (3 f Dual Spark) is finally being justified with a barnstorming finish for second in the Auraria Stakes (Gr 3) over 1800m at Morphettville. Such was the rate of El Spark's finish that she had the race won in another two strides but she does certainly look a middle-distance runner of promise.

Elvstroem is quietly amassing some impressive figures. Of his 35 winners, an incredible 17.14% are stakes performers and 57.42% of his runners have won or placed.

Impressive stuff, especially against Elvstroem's fee in 2010 of $16,500 inclusive of gst. May 2

Group 1 winning sprinters are understandably highly sought after as stallion prospects. When they are dual Group 1 winners from a proven Group 1 sire-line, even more so. It is therefore with great pleasure that Blue Gum Farm announce the acquisition of Turffontein.

The handsome chestnut will be syndicated to stand alongside Elvstroem, Churchill Downs and Astronomer Royal (USA) at Blue Gum Farm in Euroa for the 2010 season.

Turffontein’s credentials are faultless. A dual Group 1 winner of five races and over $1.2 million in stakes, Turffontein produced a career best performance to win this season’s William Reid Stakes (Gr 1) at Moonee Valley. Run over 1200m at WFA, Turffontein defeated a stellar field that included six Group 1 winners, sprinting past Wanted, Sniper’s Bullet and co in the straight to score.

Turffontein’s other Group 1 win came in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield and he was also victorious in the Queensland Guineas (Gr 2) over 1600m at three. It is also relevant to note that Turffontein only mixed in the most elite of racing company, contesting 28 stakes events in a 31 race career.

Turffontein is by Johannesburg (USA), unbeaten champion juvenile in the world in 2001 when his wins included the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Recent AJC Oaks heroine Once Were Wild is also by Johannesburg who has Northern Hemisphere Group 1 winners Sageburg and Scat Daddy already at stud.

Turffontein presents a truly unique opportunity for breeders as he represents an unbroken sire-line of six Group 1 winners, tracing through Johannesburg, Hennessy (USA), Storm Cat (USA), Storm Bird (USA) and Northern Dancer (Can).

Add to this proven, unrivalled sire-line is a female pedigree to match. Turffontein comes from the immediate family of Group 1 winners Hit The Roof, Alynda and Penny Gem while this is also the family of champion sires Sovereign Edition (Ire) and Smokey Eyes (GB).

Interestingly, Turffontein is inbred to influential ‘Blue Hen’ mare Somethingroyal through Secretariat and Sir Gaylord, the same as successful sires Grand Lodge and Volksraad.

“We are delighted to have been able to acquire a horse of Turffontein’s ability,” says Blue Gum’s Philip Campbell. “Having launched the stud career of several Group 1 producing stallions including Encosta de Lago, who also won the Rupert Clarke Stakes when it was run as the VicHealth Cup, I believe Turffontein also possesses the attributes to be a successful stallion.”

“He’s a dual Group 1 winner, retires sound and is a very masculine looking horse from the most prepotent sire-line there is. He is four generations free of Northern Dancer so is open to all the Danehill blood out there, especially with the Sir Tristram in his pedigree. Turffontein is what the market wants and we are very happy to have secured him.”

Turffontein, who will stand at $13,750 including gst in his first season, will be syndicated into 40 shares, with several of his racing owners remaining in the Syndicate. A limited number of shares will be available to clients of Blue Gum Farm with generous standing rights in his first four seasons. Apr 29

Mares in foal to our French Classic winner Astronomer Royal (USA) were in good demand at the Easter Broodmare Sale in Sydney last week.

Six mares sold with an Astronomer Royal positive test, selling up to $240,000 and $200,000 with an average price of $99,500!

And his first foals that are arriving in Europe are earning rave reviews so we are all excited about his return to Blue Gum Farm for the 2010 season. Contact Darryl Sherer in the office to discuss your mating plans for the coming season. Apr 20

On Thursday the Rick Hore-Lacey trained PULL NO PUNCHES (2 c Show No Restraint) showed plenty of fight to score over 1400m at Ballarat while less than one haur later, the Guy Walter-trainee HARDBREAK HOTEL (3 c Hard Rider) saluted at Wyong against older horses in good style. The day before VIVA LAS (3 f La Frizette) registered her second win at Warwick Farm in Sydney with a comfortable win against older mares.

Elvstroem has now sired 33 winners from his two crops to race at the excellent strike-rate of 37.37% winners to runners with 51 of his 86 runners have won of placed.

Elvstroem is the leading second-crop sire in Victoria and he has some promising three-year-olds about to race - some of them already delivering! Mar 25.

The first-crop yearlings by Churchill Downs have proved very popular at yearling sales around Australia this year and we're delighted to report he has topped the leaderboard at the Melbourne Premier Sale just concluded at Oaklands.

Churchill Downs ended the sale as the leading Victorian-based sire by average; the leading first-season sire by average on the Premier 1 session and he was the most profitable stallion ($10,000 or more) across the entire sale with a ratio of nearly five times conception fee.

All of which makes Churchill Downs a 'must include' for your matings in 2010. Mar 7

Next week sees the start of inspections for the Melbourne Premier Sale at Oaklands Junction commencing March 1. Our yearlings will be available from Wednesday afternoon and we look forward to seeing you there. In the meantime, feel free to inspect our draft online.

Pat Carroll is a good friend and client of the Farm and it was fantastic to see him enjoy Group 1 success at Moonee Vally this afternoon with Turffontein. Even better, Blue Gum Farm are consigning Turffontein's yearling half-sister by Churchill Downs to the Melbourne Premier Sale in two weeks time.

A strongly made bay with more than a touch of quality, she is a typical example of her sire and we look forward to showing her at Oaklands Junction.

One of the nicest yearlings we took to the Melbourne Premier Sale last year was a handsome chestnut colt by Elvstroem out of Innocent Baby. Today at Caulfield the colt, now named Innocent Gamble, made a slashing debut to land the Blue Diamond Preview (Listed) on debut and stake his claim for the big Group 1 contest in March.

Trained by Mark Riley, who shares in the breeding of Innocent Gamble with Geoff and Michael Eastmuire and Dan Mielicki, Innocent Gamble was smartly away and raced in second place to the turn before asserting in the run home, despite racing greenly, to score convincingly. Riley had made no secret of his admiration for the colt beforehand and afterwards he said, "This is the best horse I have had - and there's plenty of improvement to come."

Blue Gum Farm will consign the brother to Innocent Gamble and Viking Legend to to Melbourne Premier Sale as Lot 183. He is a quality individual and we welcome inspection of him and any of our draft of 22 in the Premier Sale at any time, feel free to contact Darryl Sherer on 0417 662 178 to arrange a visit.

Elvstroem had a winning double on Tuesday to go with his double at the weekend and we have some truly lovely yearlings to offer in March.

Elvstroem's offspring are really beginning to run. In fact, his strike-rate of stakeswinners to runners is a very high 4.1 per cent and he is the leading second-crop sire in Victoria by a considerable margin. Jan 26

We are delighted with the way the first-crop yearlings by Churchill Downs are progressing and the marketplace clearly shares our view that this son of Danehill is destined for stud success. At the recently completed Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney. Churchill Downs headed the first-season sires by average with three or more sold, weighing in with three lots sold from three offered at an average of $40,000.

This figure is a whopping 20 per cent better than the next best Strada ($31,233) and then the next best Holy Roman Emperor ($28,333).

Coming off a $12,000 conception fee, the figures show that Churchill Downs is set to achieve great things and the best is yet to come with some superb examples catalogued in the Melbourne Premier Sale. They have their sires physique. Size, scope and a precocious look that appeals to buyers. Jan 25.

The Barty family-owned mare Lady Violet is certainly one of the more remarkable mares in the Australian Stud Book. The grey holds the record for producing 18 consecutive foals and while that record came to an end last season, she is certainly still out there being successful.

Yesterday at Cessnock her Elvstroem 3yo son NAMAKA scored an effortless win at the third time of asking and the Paul Perry-trainee looks likely to improve again.

He is the 11th winner out of the mare following Group 1 winner NOTOIRE and Listed winners WELL KNOWN and TEMPEST TOST.

Lady Violet's last foal is a very attractive grey son of Churchill Downs, catalogued as Lot 211 in the Melbourne Premier Sale and we look forward to your inspection prior to the sale. Jan 17

The team at Blue Gum Farm is in need of another permanent Stud Hand. If you would like to join the team click here to find out more.

One of the nicest yearlings sold at auction from the first-crop of Elvstroem was sold in New Zealand, a handsome colt out of La Camille. Selling for $NZ350,000, the colt, named BRAVE HEART, is now a gelding and is in Hong Kong under the care of trainer Paul O'Sullivan.

BRAVE HEART looks to have plenty of ability too judged on an impressive win at Sha Tin on Friday. Racing for just the second time, Brave Heart had to overcome several bouts of interference to win his race over 1200m but there is no doubting his potential. "He just has a bombproof temperament this horse, and it will take him a long way," O'Sullivan told Patrick Allen of the South China Morning Post.

"He trialed well, and if you watched him work in the morning you'd say he could be anything, but we'll just let him go through his races and see where he gets to before we get carried away.

"He was bought as a yearling in New Zealand for NZ$350,000 [HK$1.97 million] and is obviously a very nicely bred son of Elvstroem, so it is nice that he has adapted to Hong Kong racing so readily." Jan 2

The Bart Cummings trained Jewelled Crown became another city winner from Elvstroem's first-crop when she scored a soft win in the Aqua D'Amore Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Purchased and trained by the Cups King, Jewelled Crown showed she was destined for a bright future over longer distances with an impressive performance. Ridden off the speed by apprentice Brenton Avdulla, Jewelled Crown shot to the front 200m from home and then easily held out Sikka and Money Rocks.

The lightly raced three-year-old relished the step up to a mile and should be further suited as the distances increase as she continues to mature according to her trainer.

"It was certainly the case today," Cummings said. "She went much better today over the mile. The blinkers helped to focus her and it all worked out very well.

"Patience has been the way to go. She's going to get better and better I think particularly over a bit of ground."

"We had a beautiful run," Avdulla said. "I thought we'd be a bit further back than we were - but she jumped well and put herself there. Coming around the corner we were able to poke through and then come out - we hit the front early which I didn't really want, but I was just going too good and she did a good job."

Jewelled Crown is the second winner from three to race for the unraced Anabaa (USA) mare Cadillac, a daughter of the VRC Oaks winner Taj Eclipse.

Jewelled Crown is therefore inbred to Danzig and is yet another promising winner for this emerging pattern. Dec 26.

The winners KEEP accumulating from Elvstroem's first-crop. The Robbie Griffiths trained Tiptoe Dancer justified favouritism to land her Maiden at Mornington today. Showing the benefit of a recent run, Tiptoe Dancer (3 f Plot) showed plenty of her sires courage to gain the verdict in a open class event.

Bred by Mrs N F Calvert, Tiptoe Dancer cost $70,000 as a yearling at the Melbourne Premier Sale and Plot has a very nice 2009 colt by Churchill Downs. Dec 11.

The winners are accumulating from Elvstroem's first-crop and he has added a further two in the last two days.

Jewelled Crown (b/br f 3 Elvstroem - Cadillac) gave trainer J B Cummings a pleasant surprise when proving too strong in her 1350m Maiden at Wyong on Thursday. Across the Tasman on Wednesday and Kullu (b c 3 Elvstroem - Way Cool) went some way towards justifying his nomination for the $1 million NZ Derby in March with a gutsy all-the-way victory in his 1400m Maiden at Te Aroha for trainer Stephen McKee.

25 of Elvstroem's first-crop have either won or placed with three stakes-performers from 14 winners and the sign of plenty more to come.

We said from a while out that the best of Elvstroem's first-crop would be seen as three-year-olds and that is what is happening. Group 1 performances by Viking Legend and Carrara are being backed up by winners around Australia and at Perth's Ascot racecourse on Tuesday, Sealynx (3 c Lady Jaguar) made an impressive winning debut over 1200m.

Starting a heavily backed $3.50 favourite, Sealynx drew away in the straight to score by a length and a quarter in the slick time of 1:09.82 and running his final 600m in 34.24.

Sealynx was purchased by Damon Gabbedy as a yearling at the Easter Yearling Sale and he is out of a Last Tycoon (Ire) half-sister to stakes winners Gallopini and Land Speed Record.

With results like this it's no wonder broodmare owners are still ringing to book their mare into Elvstroem. At $27,500 including gst he is real value in a world of hype.

Judy and Durham Ritchie are good supporters of Blue Gum Farm so we are delighted to see them enjoy stakes success as beeders with She's Got Gears, winner of the Ottowa Stakes (Listed) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day. She's Got Gear's dam Last Minute boasts plenty of Blue Gum connections, being conceived here on the farm by Encosta de Lago out of a Last Tycoon (Ire) mare.

Last Minute is on farm now with a very nice filly at foot by Churchill Downs having foaled an excellent colt by Churchill Downs in 2008. She has been covered again by Churchill Downs, whose stock are impressing the toughest judges with their size, substance and character.

Blue Gum Farm reared and sold Viking Legend covered himself in glory when running third in Sarurday's Victoria Derby. The Gai Waterhouse trainee is as brave as they come and he struck the front momentarily in the straight before staying on for third behind Monaco Consul and Extra Zero.

Blue Gum Farm are consigning a brother to Viking Legend to the 2010 Melbourne Premier Sale and he is a fine example of the type of stock Elvstroem is leaving. In the words of our yearling manager Tahnee Griffith, "He's a very nice colt, lots of quality and a great attitude."

Innocent Baby is to visit Elvstroem again this season so the classic form shown by Viking Legend is even more pleasing.

Scenic Shot's win in the L K S Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1) was a great result for breeder Terry Board, who is a great friend of Blue Gum Farm and has his mare Slipshot on farm at present. Slipshot is a sister to Scenic Shot and recently foaled her first foal, a colt by Churchill Downs in October and has been covered by Elvstroem.

Blue Gum Farm (Aust) Pty Ltd is seeking an experienced horse person to join our busy yearling team on a full time permanent basis. Situated in the heart of Victoria’s thoroughbred country in Euroa you will have the chance to work with some of the industry’s most exciting horses at a property with a proven track record of establishing stallions.

To apply for this role please email your CV to Sarah Lindsay-Field at bginfo@bluegumfarm.com.au or for more information call 03 5795 3331.

The Group 1 performances of Carrara and Viking Legend has ensured another stellar book of mares for their sire this season.

Mares already tested in foal include the Group 1 winning sprinter STELLA CADENTE; the Port Adelaide Cup heroine TINGIRANA; ROSA'S WISH, Listed placed herself and the dam of 2009 stakes winner OCCIDENTALIS; Group 3 winner TICKET TO ROME; the Listed winner PERSONAL ENSIGN and CRYSTAL SPRITE, the dam of CARRARA.

Add to this the likes of Red Anchor Stakes (Gr 3) winner CORTON CHARLEMAGNE, the VRC Matron Stakes (Gr 3) winner UMBER; Weekend Surprise, the dam of Group winner DAN BARONESS; Spiner Tingler, the dam of SATIN ROBES and you can see that the market is confirming Elvstroem's bright start at stud with a quality book of mares.

Both the dams of Carrara and Viking Legend will be back to Elvstroem this season and with a raft of promising three-year-olds in the wings, Elvstroem's stocks can only rise higher as the season progresses.

Our French Classic winner Astronomer Royal has made a brilliant start to his stud career at Blue Gum with 18 of the first 19 mares tested proving in foal. Amongst those are the Sydney Group winner THRONE INN, Perth Listed winner JUST A KISEKI; Gambetta, a half-sister to Group 1 winner UMRUM; Charlotte Larousse, a half-sister to Group 1 winner BOHEMIATH; brilliant juvenile Countess Christie, the dam of 2yo stakes winner I HAVE NO FEAR; Blue Gum Girl, the dam of PERSONAL ENSIGN; Chelsey Cry (USA), a daughter of Grade 1 winner CHELSEY FLOWER and Hidden Oasis, a half-sister to Queensland Oaks winner VITESSE DANE.

Elvstroem's Group 1 performers Viking Legend (sold by Blue Gum Farm as a yearling to Gai Waterhouse) and Carrara are set to clash in the AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley on Saturday en route to the Victoria Derby. See how both worked at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.

The Elvstroem bandwaggon just keeps gathering momentum with another city winner from his first-crop at Doomben on Wednesday. The Patinack Farm-owned Meddler (3 f Lettercee) was given a patient ride and then charged home to score by a length over Falvelizabeth in the Mitty's Plate (1040m) .

The daughter of Elvstroem was later described by winning jockey Jason Taylor as a "keeper" after she unleashed a powerful finishing burst to score decisively.

Meddler is the 11th winner for Elvstroem, who is the only second-crop sire to have two Group 1 performed colts.

Carrara ran a career best when a gallant second in Saturday's Caulfield Guineas to give Elvstroem his second Group 1 performer from his first crop after Viking Legend's placing in the Spring Champion Stakes.

Carrara has inherited all of his sires toughness and class and he is yet to miss a place.

Just one week after siring two stakeswinners in 24 hours, Elvstroem added his first Group 1 performer to his record when Viking Legend finished a brave third in extremely testing conditions in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Saturday behind the Mike Moroney-trained Monaco Consul. Ironically on Sunday Moroney turned provider when Viking Hero (3 c Gypsy Dollar) proved too good for his rivals in winning at Benalla on his second start to become the 10th winner this season for his sire.

To date, Elvstroem has a very healthy 36.17 strike-rate for winners or placed horses from his 47 runners

Less than 24 hours after Carrara earned his fourth stakes success in the Stutt Stakes (Gr 2) at Moonee Valley, Elvstroem was represented by his second stakeswinner when the Gai Waterhouse-trained Viking Legend scored a dominant win in the Dulcify Quality (Listed) over 1800m at Randwick.

After being interfered with at the start to such an extent that jockey Tim Clark earned himself a five meeting suspension, Blake Shinn then gave Viking Legend plenty of time to find his feet before coming through along the inside into the straight to make his challenge. Viking Legend came out into running room with 150m to go and than ran down Saint Encosta (Encosta de Lago) to win going away by a neck with Smart Lady (Catbird) two lengths away in third.

Waterhouse confirmed she will back-up Viking Legend in next Saturday’s Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1) over 2000m and if he runs well there will then head to Melbourne where he will attempt to emulate his sire by winning the Victorian Derby.

"Every time I ask him to improve he's done it, he'll go to the Spring Champion Stakes and there's every chance he'll go to Melbourne after that." Waterhouse said after the race.

Bred in partnership by Mark Riley, Geoff and Michael Eastmuire and Dan Mielicki, Viking Legend was a $165,000 purchase by Waterhouse from the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. He is the third foal and first winner from the Jugah mare Innocent Baby, a half-sister to Summoned Stakes (Listed) winner Innocent Affair (Kingston Rule).

A five-time Group 1 winner from 5 seasons on the track, Elvstroem raced with distinction at the highest level in Dubai, Europe and Hong Kong.

Understandably, the interest in Elvstroem has been rising by the week, especially considering his 2009 fee, which has been reduced to $27,500 this year.

Having started the season with a stakes double for star colt Carrara, Elvstroem's offspring have enjoyed a winning period with three winners in the past eight days. Don Jose (3 c Carmenesque), Crossley (3 c Prenuptial) and then Iquit (3 c Masseera) all broke their Maidens impressively to make it four winners already in the new season.

Crossley has pulled up well from his win at Seymour with trainer Mick Price looking at a start in a Listed race next time out. Carrara is entered for the Stutt Stakes (Gr 2) on Friday night and is looking to make it three wins on the trot while Don Jose is headed towards the Herald Vase and then the Victoria Derby.

A clear leader by earnings and winners of Victorian second-crop sires, Elvstroem's offspring are now appreciating the benefit of time and we look forward to the rest of this month.

Believe it or not the new season two-year-old races are nearly upon us and it's pleasing to see that Elvstroem has started in promising style courtesy of his daughter ACTRICE (2 f Jolie) who skated up by four lengths in smart time in a barrier trial at Rosehill on Tuesday morning.

Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds has made an art form of buying smart juveniles and she selected and purchased Actrice for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Cost in January. The stable flagged her as a natural very early on and we have been fortunate enough to be able to look in on her and as you can see from her picture below, she is certainly an impressive looking filly.

Denise and Gai are fans of Elvstroem with Denise having also purchased two lovely colts at the sales this year. Curonian (Elvstroem – Satanay) came from the Magic Millions and Knoxville (Elvstroem – Midnight Mist) from the Blue Gum draft at the Melbourne Premier Sale.

Actrice is clearly a talented and precocious filly who looks set to be yet another winner in the famous purple, white stars silks and we wish her and all her owners good luck.

Elvstroem was represented by another winner on Friday when the Mick Price-trainee Don Jose (3 c Carmenesque) made a most impressive debut over 1340m. Given time to settle by Craig Newitt, Don Jose was travelling strongly in behind the leaders prior to the home turn and then lengthened powerfully in the straight to win going away.

A $160,000 Melbourne Premier yearling when consigned by Blue Gum Farm, Don Jose is a half-brother to Flemington Listed winner Umaquest (Umatilla), their dam the Listed-placed Carmenesque.

Mick Price is a great supporter of Blue Gum Farm and he obviously knew what he had on his hands as he was back again at the Premier Sale this year to purchase the yearling sister to Don Jose for $50,000.

Bred by Margaret Campbell in partnership with Philip and Patti Campbell, Don Jose has helped push Elvstroem's seasonal earnings to $174,600 - a clear leader of Second-crop sires in Victoria and ahead of Al Maher, Charge Forward, Not A Single Doubt and Shamardal overall.

Elvstroem's high-class son Carrara continued his march towards the $1 million Caulfield Guineas when he shouldered 59kg to victory in the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes (Listed) at Flemington on September 5.

The son of Elvstroem was was always prominent in the 1400m race and made it three black-type victories and four wins overall from seven starts.

Carrara was always the horse to beat and after going clear early in the straight he kicked clear for a comfortable 1-1/4 length win over the filly Aloha ($9) with Stoneblack ($12) a short head away third.

"He did a good job the horse. He capitalised on beginning as well as he did and took the sit as we planned to do to try and give him as soft a run as we possibly could with the 59kg," Vasil said.

"Once he peeled outside the leader's heels and found the front inside the 300 metres he really pulled something out with 150 metres to go and he won with a bit of authority. I thought it was a very good win."

Vasil confirmed the Bill Stutt Stakes (Gr 2) over 1600m at Moonee Valley on September 25 as the colt's next start."The Bill Stutt will tell me whether the (Caulfield) Guineas is on the radar or not," Vasil said.

"Of course you've got races like the Carbine Club and the Sandown Guineas as well, but I think when we see him over the mile we're going to be able to make a good analysis of where his ability level lies.

"His pedigree on his dam's side suggests he won't run a mile, but his sire won the (Victoria) Derby," Vasil said

Frank and Sally Tagg picked up a $100,000 bonus, offered by Inglis and Son, on top of the $75,000 first prize for winning the event. Inglis generously offered the bonus to three-year-olds who were nominated for the $2.5 million Inglis Race series.

Churchill Downs is one of the best bred young stallions in Australia and his younger half-sibling EL JAY (2 c One Cool Cat) showed he has inherited plenty of his family's speed with a dominant eight length win at Clairwood in South Africa last weekend.

Highly regarded by trainer Dylan Cunha, El Jay will now head to Cape Town for the Summer season

Frank Tagg's high-class colt Carrara showed he had returned to competition in good heart with a dominant performance to land the the $100,000 Essendon Nissan Stakes (Listed) over 1200m at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Carrara added a second stakes victory to his record despite a torrid run in transit. Jumping from barrier six, Carrara was forced to race three-wide for most of the way 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 1 ¼ lengths in a 1,2 for Blue Gum stallions in one of the feature races for three-year-old colts this Spring.

Trainer Tony Vasil revealed after the race his 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 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 it 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 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 good workmanlike horse," he added.

By Elvstroem out of Hurricane Sky mare, Crystal Spite, Carrara is a $200,000 purchase from the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and is bred by Jim and June Anderson who have been great supporters of Elvstroem and Blue Gum Farm.

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.

Blue Gum Farm consigned the Listed winner Burgeis to the Inglis August Thoroughbred Sale at Oaklands Junction on behalf of Frank Tagg. The chestnut daughter of Catbird subsequently topped the sale at $310,000 to the bid of James Bester and we wish him and the new owners of Burgeis all the best for the future.

Simply phone the office (03 5795 3331) during business hours to get your Astronomer Royal DVD posted out. Get up to speed with the quality this son of Danzig displayed on the racetrack before he arrives from Europe.

Blue Gum Farm homebred INKSTER (4 m Umatilla - Delgara) is racing most consistently and she added another win to her growing record with a dominant performance in the Glasshouse Cafe Handicap (2400m) on Saturday. Rolling up to make her challenge approaching the home turn, Inkster rounded up the opposition to run to the front halfway up the straight, jockey Craig Newitt allowed the luxury of patting Inkster down the neck as he eased near the line, some two and a half lengths clear.

'She's a very game mare and she is hard to beat in these races when there is genuine pace on," winning trainer Mick Price said afterwards.

Inkster advances her record to 5 wins and five placings from 18 starts for earnings of $252,155. "Elvstroem might have to wait a little while for her while she's racing like this!" Price quipped.

Either way, Inkster is a credit to the team at Blue Gum Farm that raised her and the staff at Mick Price's that dote on the daughter of Umatilla, whose fee of $4,400 incl. gst looks unbeatable value.

The Mick Price trained Gruenfeld confirmed his trainers high opinion of him in stunning fashion with a crushing eight-length stroll in a 1000 metre 2yo Maiden at Ballarat on Sunday to credit Elvstroem with his sixth winner.

Unfazed by the heavy track, Gruenfeld (2 c Jewel Theft, by Jade Robbery (USA)) was always travelling strongly and he came right away in the straight to defeat Guffaw (Happy Giggle) with the favourite On Your Mark (More Than Ready) a further 2 ½ lengths back in third.

An encouraging fourth behind the Group 1 winner Reward For Effort when backed in to favouritism in the Blue Diamond Preview (Listed) on debut at Caulfield in January, Gruenfeld resumed with a close up fourth at Bendigo on June 21.

An $80,000 purchase by his trainer from the Baramul Stud consignment at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling sale, Gruenfeld is closely related to the Group 2 winner Magically.

Elvstroem now has six winners from his first-crop and a place in the top 10 by earnings. He has an impressive strike-rate of 22.22 per cent winners to runners, headed by the Listed winner Carrara and with metropolitan winners in four states.

The Elvstroem bandwaggon kept rolling when London Ink (2 f Filming, by Brocco) provided the five-time Group 1 winner with his fifth winner at Bendigo on Sunday. Making her debut in what looked a 'hot' Maiden beforehand, London Ink was all business, edging out Bluey's Mist and On Your Mark in the time of 59.53 for the 1000m. Gruenfeld (Elvstroem) started favourite for the event and he was close up fourth in a tight finish on his reappearance.

Congratulations to London Ink's breeders Danny and Dianne Molloy, John and Elizabeth Mortensen who have been great supporters of Elvstroem.

Elvstroem has now had five winners from his first-crop at an excellent strike-rate of 20.83 per cent and earnings of over $300,000. His stakes winning colt Carrara was only narrowly defeated in the Australia Post Stakes (Listed) on Saturday completing what has been a very successful first preparation with the promise of more to come.

INKSTER HOLES OUT AT SANDOWN PARK
Blue Gum Farm homebred INKSTER (4 m Umatilla - Delgara) is one of the biggest mares in training and has a heart to match her proportions as she showed with another gritty win at Sandown Park on Saturday. The heavy going made for testing conditions in the Betfair Handicap over 2400m but Inkster showed plenty of heart to wear down the favourite Spare A Dime in the final strides and score.

The win advances Inkster's record to four wins and earnings of $175,205 and as a classic winner of the VRC St Leger and placed in a South Australia Oaks, she will be a valuable addition to the Blue Gum broodmare band this Spring.

The victory also reinforces what a good stallion UMATILLA continues to be. If there is a better value stallion than the Group 1 winning son of Miswaki at $4400 then we would like to hear it!

CHURCHILL DOWNS LEADS GREAT SOUTHERN SIRES
Churchill Downs has been making a splash with his first-crop foals - the first of his sale offerings returning some excellent figures. At the Inglis Great Southern Sale in May, Churchill Downs had weanlings sell for $40,000, $32,000 and $20,000. These returns saw him head the first-season sires by averages with three or more sold and he was the only stallion in the Top 10 by averages to return a better figure than conception cost.

Churchill Downs represents outstanding value at $8,000 plus gst in 2009. A typical Danehill in appearance his stock have a similar look and he has the opportunity to make a real impression with his first yearlings in 2010.

CARRARA IS ELVSTROEM'S FIRST STAKES WINNER
HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS TO FRANK TAGG who had the honour of breeding and racing Elvstroem and now has the distinction of racing Elvstroem's first stakes winnner after CARRARA (2 c Crystal Sprite) produced a towering performance to land Saturday's Doomben Slipper (Listed) over 1350m.Making just his third race start and starting from 18 barrier on a heavy 9 track, Carrara went forward in driving rain, assumed control early in the straight and then ran on gamely to defeat Choistar in a dominant display under hands and heels riding..

"I am very tempted to head to the Sires at Eagle Farm next week with him on the proviso that he does well during the week and gets over the run," Vasil said afterwards. "I strongly believe in giving two-year-olds plenty of time to mature. Although the TJ Smith is a Group One race I'd be more inclined to put this horse away and concentrate on the spring in Melbourne with him."

Carrara thoroughly impressed his sire's former regular rider, Nash Rawiller. "That was my first ride on him but he's a push-button horse," he said. "He began really well and landed in a good spot and he just kept giving every time I asked him for an effort."

The Elvstroem bandwaggon is now gathering real momentum and with several more promising types about to hit the track, the time is right to make a booking to the champion son of Danehill, especially at his 2009 fee of $25,000 plus gst.

DORSODURO IS ELVSTROEM'S THIRD CITY WINNER
DORSODURO (2 f Drinkcard Princess) made it two wins from as many starts when she ran out the brave winner of the $30,000 2yo Handicap at Morphettville on Saturday. An impressive winner on debut at Bendigo in April, Dorsoduro loomed up to make her challenge into the straight and while she was clearly ill at ease on the rain affected track that had been downgraded to dead, she maintained her momentum to gain the upper hand inside the final 100m and score a game win over Super Tuesday by half a neck. Dorsoduro clocked 1:12.22 for the 1200m - a smart effort considering the state of the track and even better when one considers trainer Tony Vasil's opinion that the stylish grey will be better over a bit further.

Dorsoduro is now the third metropolitan winner in three different states from the first-crop of Elvstroem following Viking Legend and Viva Las.

FOURTH WINNER FOR ELVSTROEM
Elvstroem posted his fourth winner when the Tony Vasil-trained filly Dorsoduro made a winning debut at Bendigo over 1100 metres on April 26th..

Well fancied to win, Dorsoduro settled off the pace and unwound a big finish, surging near the line to win by nearly a length. Like the recent Vasil-trained Elvstroem winner Carrara, Dorsoduro is also raced by Frank Tagg's Arch of Gold Syndicate.

Dorsoduro sold for $300,000 from the draft of the Yallambee Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale was the most expensive Australian sold yearling from Elvstroem's debut crop.

Grey like her mother, Dorsoduro is from former smart metropolitan winner Drinkcard Princess, whose grey colouring can be attributed to her female family which traces back to include famous grey gallopers Bounding Away and Glastonbury. Dorsoduro is the fourth winner for Elvstroem joining Viking Legend, Carrara and Viva Las.

TWO IN TWO DAYS FOR ELVSTROEM
Debuting at Warwick Farm the John O'Shea-trained Viva Las has made it two wins in two days for Elvstroem, following on from the performance of Carrara the previous day at Seymour.
Second to stakes-placed Amarantha in a recent barrier trial, Viva Lass coped best with the rain affected going to take the 1100 metre maiden by the best part of a length.

Retained to race by her breeders, Viva Las is from the Zeditave mare La Frizzette, who has since been back twice more to Elvstroem producing yearling and weanling full sisters to Viva Las.

An outstanding racehorse, Elvstroem won 19 races and $5.6 million in prizemoney highlighted by memorable wins in the Group One VRC Victoria Derby, MRC Caulfield Cup and the Group One Dubai Duty Free. A son of champion sire Danehill (USA), Elvstroem's best form was from the age of three on so whatever his progeny are doing now is probably a bonus. A hugely popular horse since his retirement to Blue Gum Farm, Elvstroem is anticipated to be busy again this spring after having his last season cut short by injury.

ASTRONOMER ROYAL TO STAND AT BLUE GUM FARM
Nothing stands still in this business and now is another exciting time for Blue Gum Farm. We are delighted to announce that we have added the Champion and Classic winning sprinter/miler Astronomer Royal to our stallion roster in 2009.

From the final crop of Danzig, Astronomer Royal fulfills everything a breeder in Australia could ask for in a stallion. A Champion and Classic winner on the track, by a proven sire of sires and boasting a high-class female pedigree, Astronomer Royal is an outstanding physical specimen that did his racing on turf and drug-free. Read on

VIKING LEGEND SHINES FOR ELVSTROEM
Viking Legend (2 c Elvstroem - Innocent Baby) gave Elvstroem his first winner with a classy performance at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Away sharply, Viking Legend was used up to cross from the outside and lead and then found plenty of courage to hold the challenges in the straight. Appropriately, Viking Legend was sold by Blue Gum Farm at the Melbourne Premier Sale for $165,000 and his younger brother is catalogued as lot 437 among the Blue Gum draft of 21 for the Premier Sale in two weeks time.

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