Ascot options open for Sergei Prokofiev

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Sergei Prokofiev will aim for either the Norfolk Stakes or the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot next month, trainer Aidan O’Brien has confirmed.

O’Brien’s exciting youngster enhanced his reputation when recording a ready success in the Listed Coolmore War Command Rochestown Stakes over five furlongs at Naas on Sunday.

Ryan Moore sat close to the lead in third place as Mick Channon’s British raider Izzer set the pace, but Sergei Prokofiev had little bother in moving through to take up the running going into the final furlong and the contest was very quickly in safe keeping.

Andre Amar came through for second spot, four lengths down with Offline third and Izzer weakening into fourth.

The Scat Daddy colt has won both starts on turf since being turned over on his debut at Dundalk in April and his trainer feels there will be more to come from him in stronger run races.

“He’s learning and when he gets more pace in front of him it will help,” said the Ballydoyle maestro.

“He’s very natural and gets there very easy – Ryan is very happy with him.”

His Royal Ascot stopping point will depend on how O’Brien elects to line out his talented two-year-old team and the trainer feels Sergei Prokofiev will be just as good over five or six furlongs next month.

“It will be either the Coventry or the Norfolk (at the Royal meeting) and will depend on what we do with some of the other two-year-olds,” he added. “He won’t mind going five or six (furlongs).”

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