By Sean Cronin
Confronted with gale-force winds for Friday's G3 Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis S. at Newmarket, 'TDN Rising Star' Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) sought cover from the gusts–as conservation of energy proved key in the five-furlong dash–and swooped late to secure a first pattern-race triumph with authority. Allowed to drop out and race under cover at the tail of the field through halfway, the 3-1 favourite weaved a passage to the outside approaching the final furlong and quickened smartly up the hill to easily account for Well Done Fox (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths. “He has a massive amount of talent and has had it since day one,” insisted winning rider Donnacha O'Brien. “He was too keen in his early days and it's taken him a long time to relax. Keeping him at five [furlongs], he's very fast and when they go quick in front he's able to settle. I was locked up [out of the strong gusts] for most of the race and didn't feel too much wind. When I got out, most of the ones in front were stopping and getting that cover was no harm.”
Green when runner-up to subsequent G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) in his Apr. 11 debut at Dundalk, Sergei Prokofiev gained this publication's stamp of approval when annexing an Apr. 23 maiden on turf bow at Navan next up and joined the stakes trail thereafter. Having garnered Naas' May 20 Listed Rochestown S. in his most recent start at the minimum distance, he hit the board behind fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in Royal Ascot's June 19 G2 Coventry S. before running last of five in The Curragh's Aug. 12 G1 Phoenix S. and seventh of eight in the Sept. 29 G1 Middle Park S. at this track last time.
Sergei Prokofiev is the first foal produced by a half-sister to GIII Hollywood Juvenile Championship victress Necessary Evil (Harlan's Holiday), herself out of a half-sister to Listed Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash S. winner Forest Danz (Forestry), from a family which also includes GI Spinaway S. and GI Matron S. heroine Over All (Mr. Prospector). His dam Orchard Beach (Tapit) has also produced the yearling filly Turko Beack (Hard Spun) and a colt foal by Air Force Blue, and she was bred to Medaglia d'Oro this year.
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
NEWMARKET ACADEMY GODOLPHIN BEACON PROJECT CORNWALLIS S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-12, 2yo, 5fT, :59.46, g/f.
1–SERGEI PROKOFIEV, 127, c, 2, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: Orchard Beach, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Song and Danz, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Danzig Til Dawn, by Danzig
1ST GROUP WIN. ($1,100,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Anderson Farms (Ontario) Inc (ON); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Donnacha O'Brien. £34,026. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 7-3-1-1, $135,938. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Well Done Fox (GB), 127, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Excelette (Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (255,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Crossfields Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £12,900.
3–Barbill (Ire), 127, c, 2, Zebedee (GB)–Fiuise (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (€30,000 Ylg '17 TIRSEP). O-Mrs Susan Bunney; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Mick Channon. £6,456.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 3.00, 6.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: The Cruising Lord (GB), Pocket Dynamo, Yolo Again (Ire), Poetry (GB), True Mason (GB), Deia Glory (GB), Fantasy (Ire), Heartwarming (GB), Prince of Rome (Ire), Second Generation (GB), Armageddon (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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