The importation of the successful young sire Sergei Prokofiev from England should be a huge boost to the Ontario breeding industry. Sergei Prokofiev will stand for $10,000 at Ballycroy Bloodstock north of Toronto after the son of Scat Daddy was purchased privately and syndicated last fall by his Canadian breeder, David Anderson. A $1.1 million Keeneland yearling purchase by the Coolmore clan in 2017, he won three sprint stakes in England and Ireland during his formative years, including the Group 3 Cornwallis. Sergei Prokofiev’s top runner is the Group 1-winning millionaire Arizona Blaze, who finished second in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Sergei Prokofiev sired 23 winners in his initial crop and was Europe’s leading freshman sire by progeny earnings in 2024. Anderson believes that Sergei Prokofiev is a perfect fit for Woodbine, which has two turf courses to go along with the Tapeta main track. “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,” Anderson said. “In Canada, historically, the most successful sires have been speed horses, and we have that inner turf course at Woodbine that suits speed.” Sergei Prokofiev should be appealing to those who want to avoid the high cost of breeding their better mares in Kentucky. Michaela Kemp, Ballycroy’s director of bloodstock, said the 16.1-hand horse has been popular with Ontario breeders. “Shares have been selling out and I’ve sent out well over a dozen contracts already,” Kemp said. “That doesn’t include the 12 mares David has lined up for him.” Ballycroy Bloodstock stands three other stallions in Collusion Illusion, Gamble’s Exchange, and Tamarkuz. Collusion Illusion’s first crop hits the track this year, and those runners should be quick. A closing sprinter by Twirling Candy, Collusion Illusion won the Grade 2 Best Pal at 2 and the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at 3, both at Del Mar. Kemp predicted that Collusion Illusion’s offspring should be precocious, and said many are developing his stocky build. “They are sturdy and fast-looking,” Kemp said. “The older they get, the more I see them take his shape.” Adena Springs North stood the 2025 leading Canadian sire Ghostzapper, who has been pensioned after failing to get any mares in foal last year at age 25. Adena Springs North has a diverse roster consisting of Silent Name, Mucho Macho Man, Shaman Ghost, Point of Entry, Yorkton, and Weyburn. Two-time leading Canadian sire Silent Name stands for $8,000 on the heels of another successful year in 2025. His progeny earnings of $2 million ranked him seventh in Canada. The 24-year-old wasn’t far behind Mucho Macho Man, who ranked sixth with $2.2 million. Mucho Macho Man’s first Canadian-bred crop are yearlings and the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic victor commands a stud fee of $4,500. Yorkton ($5,000) and Weyburn ($3,500) are two young sires who have been well supported by owner Chiefswood Stables. Yorkton stood his first few seasons in Kentucky and sired the two-time stakes winner Piper’s Gift, one of last year’s leading 2-year-olds in Canada. Grade 3 Gotham winner Weyburn’s first foals arrive this year. The leading active sire in Canada is Tapiture, who had progeny earnings of $7.2 million last year, which ranked him a clear second in the country. The 15-year-old son of Tapit relocated from Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky for the 2025 breeding season and stands for $6,000 at Highfield in Alberta. He has sired 40 stakes winners, including millionaire Repo Rocks and Grade 1-placed Jesus’ Team. Avie’s Flatter could vie for leading freshman sire honors this year with Collusion Illusion. The son of Flatter was Canada’s champion male 2-year-old in 2018 before taking the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland the following spring for owners Ivan and Colleen Dalos. “Avie’s Flatter’s first crop of 2-year-olds are strong, striking, correct, and super precocious,” Colleen Dalos said. “I have six by him in training in Ocala and they will be looking to hit the track early.” Colebrook Farms Stallion Station stands Avie’s Flatter for $3,500 along with proven sire Frac Daddy ($4,000), who ranked ninth last year with progeny earnings of $1.7 million. Frac Daddy’s unbeaten stakes-winning sprinter, Frac Dancer, takes up stud duty at Amplify Stable for a $2,500 fee. He will stand alongside stalwart sprint sire Signature Red, who was moved from Adena Springs North. Popular speed sire Reload ranked fourth in the country with progeny earnings of $2.8 million last year, during which his leading runner, 2024 Canadian Horse of the Year Patches O’Houlihan, died. Reload, who sired three stakes winners in 2025, stands for $5,000 at Northern Dawn Stables. Big Screen ranked 12th in Canada last year with progeny earnings of nearly $1.1 million. His chief runners are two-time Grade 2 victor Cruden Bay and recent Aqueduct stakes winner Full Screen. He stands for $3,000 at Spring Farm.