Cogburn (Not This Time–In a Jif, by Saintly Look), winner of this summer's GI Jaipur Stakes, will shuttle to Widden Stud in Australia in 2025, according to a Widden release Wednesday.
Campaigned by Clark Brewster and William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, the 5-year-old set a new North American and world record when taking Saratoga's 5 1/2-furlong turf event in :59.80 in June, stated the release.
“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 1/2 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.”
A winner at two, Cogburn recorded his first graded win at three when taking the 5 1/2-furlong GIII Troy Stakes at Saratoga. Undefeated in three starts this season, he most recently took the GII Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint on Sept. 7. The bay is expected to make his next start in the GI Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar next month.
“He's unbelievably impressive. He's an absolutely different horse since being switched to the turf,” said Asmussen. “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.”
“Australia is renowned for elite speed on turf and Cogburn's stats are undeniably up there with the very best of our sprinters,” said 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.”
Bred by Bellary Bay Bloodstock, the Kentucky bred is slated to stand at WinStar Farm for the North American season in 2025.
Thompson continued, “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 [1006m – :55.49] and six furlongs [1207m – 1:07.68] which compare favourably with our superstar sprinters.”
Cogburn's world-record time surpasses the track record over 1100m at Flemington (1.02.15), Caulfield (1.01.73) and Rosehill (1.02.51).
Black Caviar is the only Australian sprinter to record a faster time over 1000m in :55.42 when winning the 2013 G1 VRC Lighting Stakes.
Incidentally, the Randwick course record over 1200m stands at 1:07.32 and Flemington's track record over 1200m a time of 1:07.17.
“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.”
The Deal between WinStar and Widden was brokered by Bradley Weisbord and Will Johnson.
“Cogburn is one of six [Group 1/Grade I] 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. “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 Stakes over five furlongs.”
With nearly 70% winners to runners and 11% stakes winners to runners, Not This Time has sired the winners of over $10.7 million in North America this year highlighted by 11 stakes-winners.
Not This Time had the highest priced yearling colt at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale this year selling for $3.4 million and has had additional yearlings in 2024 sell for $1.3 million, $1.15 million, $1 million, etc for an average of $372,895 off a $75,000 service fee in 2022.
Not This Time represents the Storm Cat sire line through champion racehorse and sire Giant's Causeway, who has spawned a hugely successful sire dynasty that has also achieved success in Europe on the turf through his champion son Shamardal and Lope De Vega.
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