Olafsson scores despite getting the wobbles up late at only his second career start

Tasmanian bred and purchased Olafsson scored a strong first-up win on Monday and in doing so opened up an exciting Summer for his owners.

Plenty of sub-stories in his fantastic win - another piloted by Damian Lane and the umpteeth winner for trainers Mat Ellerton & Simon Zahra in recent weeks! The boys are absolutely on fire delivering 5 FLR winners in the last 3 weeks amongst their incredible 15 winners since mid November.

"We've deliberately held horses back post Spring Carnival to give them the best opportunity to win and its paying dividends" said Olafsson's trained Simon Zahra.

"I think we went two months from Grand Final to a few weekends ago without a Saturday runner (Overstay run on Turnbull Stakes Sunday at Flemington) but our focus is on getting results and returns for owners and we've placed these horses well"

Olafsson was well supported from $5 into $4 on track, before jumping from barrier 1 and leading all the way for a tough yet impressive win. 

The son of Magnus - FLR's second purchase by the sire of 2013/14 FLR Racehorse Of The Year Miss Maggiebeel - was a steal at only $21,000 from the Tasmanian Magic Millions.

"We went to Tassie to buy Lady Lynette's 3/4 sister (Pura Vida) yet despite being a hit and run mission with only 80 odd yearlings in the catalogue we were able to inspect all babies on the morning of the sale and fell in love with this then brute of a colt by Magnus" said FLR's Tim Wilson.

"He was one of two yearlings prepared by Macleay Thorougbreds for that sale with the other being the top priced yearling in the Sale purchased by Darren Weir for $85,000. He is named Palentino and won on Stakes Day this year - so needless to say it was a small but talented crop"

With the benefit of three trials this campaign, Olafsson - who was lucky not to be called The Mighty Angus after the McDonalds burger in a tightly contested Naming Day - showed all the power and tenacity of Magnus Olafsson... the Swedish swimmer after which he was named.

So popular is the 3-year-old he even has his own Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Olafsson-337792523035936/?fref=ts

Damian Lane all smiles post race after his typical gem of a ride gets Olafsson home at Terang

"He's such a popular horse amongst his owners - Olly, Stevie (his yearling name at Woodside Park), The Great Olafsson - whatever you want to call him his owners love him and he looks to have a really bright future" said Tim.

Trainer Simon Zahra was equally impressed with the win.

"He was forward enough to win, Damian summed it up well, the horse got lost and did plenty wrong and probably should have won by 3 or more lengths"

"He's got to work it all out still. He's got a lovely long action ... he half put them away and thought the job was done before he almost threw it away late. Its such a great time of year to have an emerging 3-year-old and he'll join Hetuka Zarsho is chasing so great prizemoney now over the Summer.

Fingers crossed we can break through with a few more over the coming weeks."

Olafsson with strapper Drew, Brad & Kristie Corr and Dan & Linda Brunning

We'll look for a suitable race in around a fortnight's time for him now, and while we expect they'll be a few more owners on track next start than the brave 4 that made it to Terang, you'll be hard pressed to find a more emotional and deserving group of owners at a racetrack for a while than Brad Corr his wife Kristie and best friends Dan and Linda Brunning.

Brad and Dan bought into Olafsson after great mate Geoff Mason had enjoyed success with Miss Maggiebeel - and included in their syndicate was Brad's Dad Terry Corr - a mad trots man making his first foray into racehorses. Sadly, Terry passed away only a few months ago and in a lovely tribute Dan organised for Monday's race to be named the Terry Corr Memorial Plate to honour his great mate's old man.

Well - as if sensing the occassion - Olafsson got the job done on Monday and Brad, Kristie, Dan and Linda burst into jubilant celebrations having got the perfect result to honour Terry.

Racing.com's Sam Hyland speaks with winning owner Brad Corr about the sentimental win of Olafsson on Monday

Congratulations to all of Olafsson's owners who like most FLR runners has a combination of long-term stable clients and some first-timers pinching themselves that their boy has such an exciting future.

Congratulations: CUBS Racing Syndicate (Daniel Brunning, Linda Brunning, Brad Corr, Terry Corr, Leon Rintoule), Mandy Gunn, Ross Smith, Deryn Rowe Syndicate (Deryn Rowe, Mal Goodey, Graeme Goodey, Tim McKenzie, Chris Purcell, Diane Dudgeon, Gerard Gough, Josh McLean, Stuart Maltese, Neil Kruse, Tony Palmer), Sean Ahearn, Phil Busch, Scott Wilson Syndicate (Scott Wilson, John Gasser, Rikki Roverato, Nick Brignell), Wayne Gatt, Julee Van Steenis, Noise Brought Thoroughbreds Syndicate (Jackson Cook, Riley Cook, Nick Sculley, Adam Lux), Joshua Henshaw