Cover image courtesy of Breeders' Cup (Eclipse Sports)
Cogburn (USA) has given Widden Stud the opportunity to shuttle a fast son of an emerging sire for 2025, and it’s a chance that Widden Stud has relished.
“Australia is renowned for elite speed on turf and Cogburn's stats are undeniably up there with the very best of our sprinters,” said Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson. “In recent times, we have been offered and considered many shuttle opportunities, but never actively pursued them until Cogburn–he's a horse we chased, a physical powerhouse who I believe will make a meaningful impact on Australian racing.”
Antony Thompson | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We're over the moon about his arrival, and it's been a great honour working with WinStar, one of the world's most distinguished stud farms, to shuttle Cogburn to Australia. Aside from his astonishing win in the Jaipur, Cogburn has also clocked brilliant times on the turf over five furlongs (1006 metres – 0:55.49) and six furlongs (1207 metres – 1:07.68) which compare favourably with our superstar sprinters.”
Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) is the only Australian sprinter to record a faster time over 1000 metres in 0:55.42 when winning the 2013 G1 VRC Lighting S., however it is important to note that the Australian timing system is started at barrier jump, while there was a 100 yard (91 metre) run up to timing at Saratoga.
Cogburn’s race record
Fourth on debut at two, Cogburn broke his maiden at his second start winning over 1200 metres at Churchill Downs. Back at three, he won first up over 1200 metres, before adding two second placings both in stakes class, being the Listed Bachelor S. and G3 Chick Lang S. both over the same trip.
At four, he again won first up, before a couple of misses, then strung together three wins in succession, all in stakes-class including the G3 Troy S. at Saratoga.
2024 has been his year with three unbeaten runs in the G2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint, G1 Jaipur S. and most recently the G2 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint. He heads to the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November as the favourite thanks to his record-breaking win in the G1 Jaipur S.
“I've had some of the fastest horses in the world, some of the fastest horses of all time, and he's still the first one I've ever had run 5.5 furlongs in under a minute,” said his trainer Steve Asmussen. “Five and a half furlongs in under a minute, it's just hard to even get your head wrapped around that.
“I've had some of the fastest horses in the world, some of the fastest horses of all time, and he's (Cogburn) still the first one I've ever had run 5.5 furlongs in under a minute.” - Steve Asmussen
“He's unbelievably impressive. He's an absolutely different horse since being switched to the turf. We moved him to the turf because I didn't feel that he had met his potential the way that he had trained. He'd run solid on the dirt, but we expected better from him. Then, we moved him to the turf, gave him a freshening and he's come back an absolute monster.”
Steve Asmussen | Image courtesy of WinStar Farm
Who is Not This Time?
“Cogburn is one of six (Group 1/Grade 1) winners by Not This Time who is regarded as one of the most exciting young sires in North America, attracting comparisons to champion Australian sire I Am Invincible, for his meteoric rise at Taylor Made Stallions–starting off from a modest fee of $15,000 when he went to stud in 2017 his fee has since rocketed to $175,000,” added Thompson.
Cogburn (USA) will stand at Widden Stud in 2025 | Image courtesy of WinStar Farm
“His first crop that are now 6-year-olds produced 17 stakes winners and his second crop produced 12 stakes-winners with his current crop of 2-year-olds including his first Royal Ascot winner Shareholder, winner of the G2 Norfolk S. over five furlongs.”
Not This Time (USA) is a son of Coolmore’s iron horse Giant’s Causeway (USA), who won seven Group 1 races and was Champion Sire in United States of America on three occasions with 196 stakes winners. His sire sons include Shamardal (USA) with 173 stakes winners including son Lope De Vega (Ire) who has also been a huge success with 139 stakes winners.
The deal between WinStar and Widden was brokered by Bradley Weisbord and Will Johnson, with the young Australian agent seeing obvious appeal in bringing a new stallion from a proven sireline down under.
“Not This Time has had a rapid rise with his ability to produce speed on turf that puts him in the top echelon of American stallions. He’s had a similar rise to I Am Invincible and Wootton Bassett from a low fee to a high one,” said Will Johnson.
Will Johnson | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Cogburn is by a sireline that’s worked well here through Shamardal and Lope De Vega. Our population is dying for an outcross and particularly with a horse that is sharp and fast like Cogburn who will be great speed outcross for Australia.
“Widden have made champion stallions over 150 years. They know how to make a stallion. Winstar are utilising Widden’s track record to give Cogburn the best chance possible.”
“Our population is dying for an outcross and particularly with a horse that is sharp and fast like Cogburn who will be great speed outcross for Australia.” - Will Johnson
With his oldest crop only 6-year-olds, Not This Time is one of the emerging stars on the American scene with 17 stakes winners in his first crop, 12 in his second, while his current 4-year-olds are his smallest crop with three stakes winners from only 63 foals. Not This Time’s 3-year-olds already have four stakes winners, while this season’s juvenile crop has produced two stakes winners.
Not This Time (USA) | Standing at Taylor Made Stallions, USA
Given his quick rise to success, his progeny have been sought after in the American sales rings with the highest priced yearling colt at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale this year selling for US$3.4 million (AU$5.1 million) and has had three other yearlings in 2024 sell for seven figures for an average of US$372,895 (AU$562,000) off a US$75,000 (AU$113,000) service fee in 2022. Not This Time stands for US$175,000 (AU$264,000) in 2024.
Cogburn comes from a tough sound fast family
Cogburn is the second foal of In A Jif (USA) (Saintly Look {USA}) who won seven races up to 1200 metres including the Listed Turfway Park Holiday Inaugural S. “She’s a tough Listed-winning mare out of a Stravinsky mare which is a sireline that has worked here. The options are plentiful with mares that could suit Cogburn,” said Johnson.
“It’s important to note that American Graded stakes are no longer run on Lasix and they’ve done a fantastic job of cleaning up their races over the last five years, so Cogburn’s entire career has been run under those conditions and his record is a reflection of his soundness and durability. And he’s out of a mare who also had those qualities.
“It’s important to note that American Graded stakes are no longer run on Lasix and they’ve done a fantastic job of cleaning up their races over the last five years, so Cogburn’s entire career has been run under those conditions and his record is a reflection of his soundness and durability.” - Will Johnson
“Cogburn’s damsire line is the Halo line, same as More Than Ready, and there are several lines in the pedigree who have worked here.”
In A Jif’s sire Saintly Look (USA) is a son of Saint Ballardo (USA), a son of Halo (USA). In A Jif is one of three stakes horses for her winning dam, Damie’s Peanut (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}), the others being Listed Horseshoe Indianapolis Governor's S. placed Son Of A Nut (USA) (Unbridled’s Success {USA}) and Listed Belterra Park Best of Ohio Sprint S. placed Nuttin’ Faster (USA) (Roman Ruler {USA}).
Second damsire Stravinsky (USA) shuttled to New Zealand, where he sired the likes of G1 VRC Oaks winner Serenade Rose, G1 Stradbroke H. winner Mr Baritone (NZ), G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. winner Keeninsky (NZ), and two other Group 1 winners. As a damsire, Stravinsky has 14 Group 1 winners including local horses Russian Revolution, Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice), Mosheen (Fastnet Rock), Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Julinsky Prince (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Sacred Elixir (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}), Signify (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) and Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}).
In A Jif’s second dam is G3 Garden State Betsy Ross H. winner Damie’s Sis (USA) (Sunny Clime {USA}).
“He’s not a typical American 2000-metre dirt horse. He’s built in the mould of an Aussie sprinter. You could argue that if he’d started out on turf, he’d have a better juvenile record. Luckily they worked out he was a turf horse, although he is also a group horse on dirt and has that diversity,” said Johnson.
WinStar also expressed their excitement in the new partnership with Widden.
“We are delighted to announce a partnership with Widden Stud on Cogburn, the fastest horse in the world,” said Elliott Walden President & CEO of WinStar Farm.
“We shuttled More Than Ready for many years, and I think Cogburn has a big chance down under. I was in awe of his performance in the Jaipur and his balance and conformation are spectacular and his type will suit the Australian market. Being by Not This Time, and having tremendous speed, he is a great fit for Australian breeders. Standing alongside Zoustar at a historic farm like Widden, we couldn't be more excited.”
