WHITSBURY Manor Stud’s record for making stallions in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal. Now they must be wondering can they do it again with a Group 3 winner whose first yearlings sold like hotcakes, and whose first two runners are winners.
Sergei Prokofiev’s son Arizona Blaze gave him the perfect start when he won at the Curragh on the opening day of the flat season in Ireland, while Flicka’s Girl won by almost five lengths on her debut at Wolverhampton on Monday. This could not be a better start at stud, and he will be well represented too.
Sergei Prokofiev has covered more than 150 mares in each of his first three seasons at stud, and last year his yearlings averaged €45,000. I would predict now that he will not be standing at £6,000 again.
Trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien and bought for $1,100,000 as a yearling, the impressive Canadian-bred Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) was a spectacular winner as a two-year-old by seven and a half lengths in a maiden race at Navan, and then added the Listed Rochestown Stakes at Naas by four lengths. Sent to Royal Ascot, he was a close third in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, only a length behind Calyx and Advertise, and returned to winning ways in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket.
At three, Sergei Prokofiev started off in winning form in the Listed Cork Stakes over five and a half furlongs at Navan, finishing fast to defeat 14 others, and then he was a close fourth to Mabs Cross in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.
Scat Daddy won the Grade 1 Florida Derby and the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes and became a leading sire in the USA, with over 135 stakes winners to his credit. Among those are the Triple Crown star Justify, one of the best young sires in the world. Other sons include No Nay Never (champion two-year-old colt in France and sire of Ten Sovereigns, Little Big Bear and Blackbeard), Caravaggio (Group 1 Commonwealth Cup and Group 1 sire), Sioux Nation (Group 1 Phoenix Stakes) and Mendelssohn (Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf).
Sergei Prokofiev is the first foal and one of three winners of his dam Orchard Beach, a half-sister by Tapit (Pulpit) to Necessary Evil, winner of the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship in California.
His grandam Song And Danz (Unbridled’s Song) is half-sister to stakes winner Forest Danz (Forestry). This is the family of champion two-year-old filly Over All (Mr Prospector) whose successes in the USA included the Grade 1 Matron Stakes and the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes.
Race record
SERGEI PROKOFIEV (CAN), Bay or Brown horse, 2016, by Scat Daddy (USA), out of Orchard Beach (CAN), by Tapit (USA). Won 4 races, value £137,454, at 2 and 3, from 5 furlongs to 5½ furlongs, Cornwallis Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.3, Rochestown Stakes, Naas, L., Cork Stakes, Navan, L., also placed third in Coventry Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2.
At stud
Retired to stud in 2021, and sire of 2 winners, of 2 races, and £16,417, viz. Flicka’s Girl (GB) and Arizona Blaze (GB).
Information
Stands at: Whitsbury Manor Stud, Nr. Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 3QP, England.
Contact: Joe Callan
Telephone: +44 1725 518254
Email: jcallan@whitsburymanorstud.co.uk
Web: www.whitsburymanorstud.co.uk
Fee: £6,000