Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}), well-known to American audiences as runner-up in both last year's GI Belmont S. and this year's G1 Dubai World Cup, will carry an additional owner with Khalid bin Mishref joining Phoenix Thoroughbreds in the horse. Phoenix and Mishref, a leading owner in Saudi Arabia, are targeting the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup, to be run in Riyadh on Feb. 29, as one of Gronkowski's major upcoming goals.
“We are delighted to welcome Khalid bin Mishref to the Phoenix Thoroughbreds team,” said Phoenix CEO Amer Abdulaziz. “We pride ourselves on our international growth and to have a man of Khalid's experience joining the team at such an exciting stage of Gronkowski's career is a major plus.”
Gronkowski won four of six starts in England at two and three including the Burradon S. on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, while trained by Jeremy Noseda. He missed the GI Kentucky Derby, but was transferred to the care of Chad Brown in America for four starts and placed in both the Belmont and the GIII Discovery S. He is now trained by Salem bin Ghadayer and has made two starts in Dubai this year, including his second in the World Cup. His team is pointing to a return to that race next year with possible stops in both the Saudi Cup and the GI Pegasus World Cup.
“It was an easy decision to invest with Phoenix Thoroughbreds,” said Mishref. “Not only is Gronkowski a world-class racehorse, but Phoenix's international ambitions mirror my own.”
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