Originally trained in Italy, the colt moved to England for the 1975 season where he recorded an upset victory over Grundy in the classic 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse.
He was sired by Balidar, a British sprinter whose most important success came in France in 1970 when he won the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp Racecourse.
Two weeks later Bolkonski ran in the 2000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile course, where he was ridden by the Italian jockey Gianfranco Dettori.
[9] The closing stages of the race devolved into a prolonged struggle between Bolkonski and the favourite Grundy, with the outsider prevailing by half a length.
Bolkonski's win made d'Alessio the first Italian to own the winner of a British classic since Edoardo Ginistrelli won the Derby and Oaks with Signorinetta in 1908.
[7] On his only subsequent appearance, Bolkonski ran very poorly when fourth of the five runners behind Rose Bowl in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Plans to move him up in distance for the ten furlong Champion Stakes at Newmarket in October were abandoned after a poor performance in a training gallop and the colt was retired from racing at the end of the season.