Widden forgives Zougotcha flop ahead of 2024 The Invitation at Royal Randwick

Zougotcha is set to stage the ultimate form reversal and bounce back to winning form in the Group 2 $2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Zougotcha is set to stage the ultimate form reversal and bounce back to winning form in the Group 2 $2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The brilliant mare blotted her copybook when finishing at the rear of the field in the 7 Stakes won by Fangirl last start.

But that out-of-character effort came after her narrow loss to Via Sistina with Fangirl in third place as Chris Waller trained the trifecta in the Group 1 Winx Stakes.

“Obviously Zougotcha was a bit disappointing last start and that’s not her, she doesn’t run a bad race very often,’’ said Antony Thompson, the Widden Stud supremo and part-owner of the five-year-old mare.

“There were a few excuses, she pulled up a bit tight in her hamstrings, but she has worked well since and we hope to see her back to her best.’’

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Zougotcha, a triple Group 1 winner of more than $2.6 million prizemoney, is on the second line of betting at $4 for The Invitation behind stablemate Olentia at $3.70.

If Zougotcha can win The Invitation, it will cap a good news week for Thompson and Widden Stud after it was revealed that America’s super sprinter, Cogburn, will shuttle down under next year.

Described as the world’s fastest sprinter, Cogburn will join Widden’s star-studded stallion roster in 2025 and could be a potential suitor for Zougotcha when that mare is eventually retired to stud.

Cogburn is dominating American sprint racing this year including his win in Group I Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga on the turf over five and a half furlongs (a1100m) when he set a North American and world record time of 59.8 seconds.

To put Cogburn’s time into perspective, the Randwick 1100m course record is held by Prophet’s Thumb at 1m 01.67s.

Record-breaking Group 1-winning sprinter Cogburn (USA) will shuttle to Australia in 2025. Picture: Jason Moran / Eclipse Sportswire / CSM

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“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 Cogburn’s American trainer Steve Asmussen.

“Five and a half furlongs in under a minute, it’s just hard to even get your head wrapped around that.”

Cogburn is the even money favourite to win the Group 1 US Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar next weekend.

Thompson said Widden Stud had charted a path into a new era of success this century through astute selection of stallions such as Northern Meteor, Sebring and Zoustar, sire of Zougotcha, and he was excited to introduce the fresh blood of Cogburn into the mix.

“Australia is renowned for elite speed on turf and Cogburn’s stats are undeniably up there with the very best of our sprinters.” said 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. He will be an outcross to a lot of our mares.

“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.”

Originally published as Widden forgives Zougotcha flop ahead of 2024 The Invitation at Royal Randwick