Scandinavian alliance enjoying the anticipation with Lucky Vega's sibling

Denmark and Sweden are not only linked by the bridge, catalyst for the eponymous Scandinavian crime drama. Natives of the two countries have joined forces for what could be one of the show-stopping members of this week's Goffs Orby Sale.

Lot 196, a Footstepsinthesand half-brother to Group 1 star Lucky Vega, was bought for €300,000 at last year's November Foal Sale by agent Filip Zwicky for Danish owners John Christensen and Alice Weiste.

They sent the March 8-born colt to the French-based Swede Anna Sundstrom to prepare and sell him through her Coulonces Sales operation.

"We wouldn't come over with one yearling if he wasn't something that special," Sundstrom said. "I've said it from the day he came to us, and I've said, 'Wow'. And I'm still saying, 'Wow'.

"So many people saw him as a foal and remember that he was a very, very nice animal. I want their reaction again; as a seller and as a consignor there's nothing more rewarding than when you take a horse out of the box and you look at peoples' faces and they nod."

Sundstrom, whose success stories so far include consigning the likes of Laurens, Le Havre, Wonderful Tonight and Havana Grey, is guarding against complacency with her latest member but is clearly enthusiastic about his prospects. She returns to an event she was last active at in 2018 when her three offerings changed hands for a minimum of €160,000.

"It has to be worth the while of leaving the farm and all the other yearlings, who are in full prep at home," she said. "It paid off before and it's time again to go and do this.

"Filip Zwicky bought this foal with the owners to be part of the fun, as it's a real buzz to buy a really nice foal, and a real buzz to sell it. If anything goes wrong, they sit with a brother to Lucky Vega. It's a win-win situation."

The colt, who was first offered as a foal by Baroda Stud, is out of the unraced Cape Cross mare Queen Of Carthage. She had produced the Lowther fourth and three-time winning sprinter Lady Clair as well as minor American scorer Boston Beauties prior to Lucky Vega's arrival on the scene.

Last year's Phoenix Stakes hero was a narrow third behind Poetic Flare in the 2,000 Guineas and second to that same rival in the St James's Palace before departing for a stallion career in Australia.

Zwicky, a Danish-based Goffs agent, said: "The reason we ended up buying him was that I was on the lookout for a few foals for a Danish investor and we decided we would buy maybe two or three foals at the sales.

"I was using a lot of time inspecting them around the sale and I said to them, 'There's one horse here, instead of us buying two or three I'd rather just buy this one, put all the eggs together'.

"I didn't know he'd fetch that much money, I told them we'd go for it and see what happens. I spent two or three days shooting videos of him, getting him x-rayed in every direction, and the clients just fell in love with him.

"He was a belter, a great walker, everything was just fabulous about him and obviously he had the Group 1 update. We weren't planning on going that far, but we continued bidding until we got him. He was an investment all along and it was always meant that he'd go back to the Orby."

Phoenix Stakes winner Lucky Vega provided a handsome catalogue updateCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

While the colt has arrived safely at Kildare Paddocks, where the keynote yearling event begins on Tuesday, Zwicky and his owners will be joining him nearer the time.

"They are champion owners in Sweden, they're very new to racing and only bought their first international horse back in the Orby in 2018," he explained.

"This is the first time that they've pinhooked, not looking at having a horse to race. They're coming along with me and are very excited about it.

"We've been in close contact with Anna. What he's developed into, we think he's amazing looking, and fingers crossed, we're looking forward to seeing him again and to sell him in the ring."

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