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Lonhro Colt to Run in Kentucky Derby

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 31
A three year-old Lonhro colt bred in North America and trained in the UK by Jeremey Noseda won the Listed Burradon Stakes on the all-weather track at Newcastle Friday securing a start in the Group I Kentucky Derby on May 5.

LonhroGronkowski is unbeaten this year, reeling off three straight wins on all weather surfaces in the UK culminating with this length and a quarter win over a mile.

The Burradon was a change in plan as originally the colt was slated to head to North America for his next start in either Group II Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland  or Group I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Noseda had a rethink in part because of a misunderstanding about the Derby qualifying points system. Points earned in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby do not cross over to the main Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

"We've had this dream, and now the dream is alive," Noseda told At The Races.

"We'll go to Kentucky and it will be a huge task and a huge ask, but it's what we set out to do. We're going to try and 'Run for the Roses' underneath the Twin Spires. It's always been a dream of mine, and I'm looking forward to it."

Gronkowski was a $75,000 Keeneland November weanling, then a 50,000 Tattersalls October Yearling, who then made 300,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale when bought by Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock and runs for Phoenix Thoroughbreds.

He has already won four of six starts, but his trainer feels the best is yet to come.

"It sounds strange, but I haven't yet seen on the racetrack what I believe this horse is capable of. I'm sure there's more to come," Noseda added.

"We'll go and sharpen up and get ready for Kentucky now. We'll need a much better effort, but I'm sure we can do ourselves justice. He hasn't got real gears, but if he can get into a rhythm, he can keep in a rhythm a long time."

Gronkowski is the first winner for unraced Four Sugars, a half-sister by Lookin at Lucky to US Group I winner Flashy Bull and stakes-winner Pink Viper.

He is the 74th stakes-winner for Darley's champion sire Lonhro, who has half a dozen entries for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.



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