15 May 23: Väsby Häst Hast has purchased an interesting juvenile colt at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sales, a US bred son of Summer Front who is set to be trained by Annike. His sire was a high class turf miler in North America, where he was trained by Christophe Clement. Summer Front won four important races over 8 and 8.5 furlongs; the Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, the Hill Prince Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park, the Cliff Hanger Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park and the Miami Mile (G3) at Gulfstream Park West (formerly Calder Race Course). He also ran third in one of the top turf events for sophomores, the 10-furlong Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park, behind the French raider Bayrir, who went on to run second in the Prix Niel (G2) at Longchamp on his subsequent start. Summer Front is a half-brother to Laragh, a smart filly who won the Hollywood Starlet (G1) on dirt at two and has become good broodmare. 

Our new recruit is out of Pick and Choose, a daughter of Dubai World Cup (G1) and Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) winner Street Cry (a succsessful stallion) out of Pictavia. Pick and Choose never reached the same heights as her dam but she won once from ten starts in the US, taking a mile contest on the dirt track at Hoosier Park when she was a three-year-old. Her runner-up that day, Gal Umet, was a winner of five races, so it was a competitive little affair. 

Pick and Choose has done well at stud. She is also the dam of Calling the Shots, who was not all that far behind the best in Ireland as a two-year-old. He won a 7-furlong maiden at Leopardstown on his second start and followed up over the same distance at Naas next time out. A step up in class took him to the Futurity Stakes (G2) at the Curragh, where he checked in third, 2 lengths behind the winner, Rostropovich, who he had beaten at Naas. Pick and Choose, whose name was Camelback at the time, was exported to Hong Kong, where he got his new name but did not find further success. Pick and Choose is also the dam of  Solid Country Gold, a winner of three races (8 and 8.5 furlongs) in the US. He was successful both on turf and dirt. 

The second dam to Väsby Häst's new colt, Godolphin's lovely Sinndar daughter Pictavia, won five races, including the Select Stakes (G3) over 10 furlongs at Goodwood and three Listed events. She came close to top level success too, taking second behind Chelsea Rose in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) in her first season, and third behind Eswarah in the Vodafone Oaks (G1) at Epsom at three. Pictavia, bred by Gainborough Stud, came from the family of top class performers Hatoof and Irish Prize. GS

Arqana catalogue page with photos and video