Gronkowski booked his ticket to Kentucky on Friday, 30 March when landing his first Stakes race in the Listed Burradon Stakes, in the process completing his fourth success victory. Held up in rear early in the straight mile contest, he made smooth headway along the nearside rail before being pushed out to record a one-and-a-quarter length triumph over Farhh’s three-year-old son Iconic Sunset.
Bred by Epic Thoroughbreds and bought by present connections for 300,000gns at Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up sale, he is the first foal of the unraced Lookin At Lucky mare Four Sugars, a half-sister to G1 winner Flashy Bull.
Gronkowski is from the third and final crop of Lonhro’s shuttle stints to Kentucky, which has already resulted in 16 Stakes performers including last seasons G1 juvenile Cardsharp. Back in his native Australia he is turning into a formidable sire of sires though Pierro and Denman, with his latest top-flight runners including Australia’s best three-year-old Kementari and G1 sprinter Impending, the first three-year-old to win the G1 Stradbroke in a decade.
