‘My phone hasn’t stopped ringing’ – Sergei Prokofiev move to Canada hailed as major boost for breeders

Last year's champion first-season sire Sergei Prokofiev has been bought back by his breeder David Anderson of Anderson Farms and will continue his career at Ballycroy Bloodstock in Canada.

Sergei Prokofiev has stood at Whitsbury Manor Stud since his retirement in 2021 and he became the leading freshman sire last year. Among his leading progeny is Flying Five Stakes winner and new Irish National Stud resident Arizona Blaze, as well as Listed National Stakes scorer Enchanting Empress, both of whom hailed from his first crop. 

The son of Scat Daddy was the first seven-figure yearling Anderson sold when he made $1.1 million to MV Magnier at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. 

Sergei Prokofiev went on to land the Cornwallis Stakes and Rochestown Stakes at two for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore, as well as finishing third in the Coventry Stakes to Calyx. At three, Sergei Prokofiev captured the Cork Stakes.

Anderson told Bloodhorse: "The Ontario government has shown a lot of support toward breeding and racing, so that was the catalyst for me to make this move with the stallion. I reached out to a few fellow breeders and the response was overwhelming. Since announcing this today, my phone has not stopped ringing.

Sergei Prokofiev: "It is a golden opportunity for our corner of the breeding and racing world"Credit: Patrick McCann

"His runners have proven themselves on turf and synthetic, and he has had a group-placed runner on the dirt with not a lot of opportunity, but that will come," he said. "In Canada, historically, the most successful sires have been speed horses, and we have that inner turf course at Woodbine that suits speed." 

He added: "I want this to be an opportunity for breeders to get in at the ground level with a lot of upside. I want breeders to see this as a reason to keep mares at home and not go to the expense of having to ship to other jurisdictions."

Ontario breeder Bernard McCormack added: "When David told me in the parking lot at Keeneland that the horse might be available and he was going to syndicate him, I told him I wanted to be the number one shareholder," said McCormack, who owns Cara Bloodstock and is the former farm manager for Windfields Farm. 

"To me, he is a three-market horse. They already love him in Europe, we'll love him here in Ontario, and I believe he's a horse whose offspring you can take to Kentucky and sell them there. It is a golden opportunity for our corner of the breeding and racing world."

Sergei Prokofiev will stand for CA$10,000.

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