Five unanswered questions after James Cummings and Godolphin split

The decision that James Cummings would step away from his exclusive training relationship with Godolphin has been rumoured for some time, but while the move has now been confirmed it still leaves several questions as to the plans of both the trainer himself and Godolphin. We’ve taken a look at the five key queries in the aftermath of Wednesday’s announcement. 

Where does James Cummings train now?

Leaving the safety net of Godolphin, Cummings needs to find a new base in metropolitan Sydney. Boxes are hard to come by, particularly at Rosehill and Randwick. To compete regularly on the big stage, as Cummings has proven he can as a public and private trainer, you need scale.

The Australian Turf Club is fielding expressions of interest from trainers about taking on Leilani Lodge on High Street, Randwick. They have been vacant since James’ father Anthony had his licence revoked due to financial difficulties earlier this year.

Leilani Lodge is where James cut his teeth, working alongside his grandfather Bart, until he was recruited as private trainer for Godolphin in 2017.

Cummings, who had also been linked to Hong Kong, has stated his intention to apply for Leilani Lodge, but Ciaron Maher has also been linked to the Randwick stables, so it’s no guarantee that he will get them.

That said, Cummings will have the support of Gooree Park, the thoroughbred racing and breeding operation owned by the family of his wife Monica Cummings (nee Cojuangco) for whom he trained Hallowed Crown to win the 2014 Group 1 Golden Rose and the 2015 Randwick Guineas and Prized Icon to win the 2016 Champagne Stakes and Victoria Derby.

The major stud farms such as Arrowfield and Newgate Farm may also back Cummings and it is likely syndicators will want to get behind his new venture, too.

As for Hong Kong and Cummings, with the Jockey Club bringing on South African Brett Crawford for the coming season, there doesn’t appear to be an opening, at least in the short term, but opportunities could arise in the years to come. However, it would seem unlikely he would go to the trouble of setting up in Australia all on his own and then make the move.

– Tim Rowe

What happens to the Godolphin training facilities?

Godolphin has three major training bases, the private facility Osborne Park at Agnes Banks, to the northwest of Sydney near Hawkesbury, as well as Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm and Carbine Lodge on course at Flemington in Melbourne.

There will be no shortage of trainers keen to take over Carbine Lodge, with Flemington the only true metropolitan-based facility in Melbourne, but what does Godolphin do with Osborne Park and Crown Lodge?

Lindsay Park has just expanded its Flemington holding through the acquisition of Chicquita Lodge, which had been occupied by the late Mike Moroney until his death in February, so it’s unlikely to be the Hayes family but perhaps Sydney trainers may want to either expand or have a permanent presence in Melbourne.

Osborne Park has been pivotal in Godolphin’s success, with the 126-acre property having 84 boxes across four barns. The property also has three grass and all-weather gallop tracks with starting stalls.

The question is, will Godolphin sell the property, lease it out or even use it for pre-training? Crown Lodge could also be leased to trainers given it has more than 100 boxes within walking distance of Warwick Farm.

A mainstay of the Woodlands empire under the Ingham family’s reign, Crown Lodge is also in a prime position for a housing or industrial development if Godolphin chooses to sell it off.

What Godolphin does with its training facilities will say a lot about its longer-term plans for its racing presence in Australia.

– Tim Rowe

Who trains Godolphin’s other horses?

The obvious alternative to Cummings is Sam and Anthony Freedman, who have trained Godolphin horses outside of the private arrangement for a long time. Included among the horses the Freedmans currently train are recent stakes winners Austmarr and Tentyris.

Significantly, Anthony Freedman has been heading up the stable’s Sydney operation since they took 30 boxes at Randwick in November. Still primarily a Mornington and Cranbourne-based operation, they could assume the Victorian footprint of Godolphin.

Ciaron Maher is another trainer who could benefit from an influx of Godolphin horses. He has an established relationship with chief executive Andy Makiv and boasts a considerable footprint as one of the two biggest stables in the country.

Makiv also has a connection with Lindsay Park, having worked with David Hayes, and that operation appears to be thriving under the three brothers, Ben, JD and Will.   

Chris Waller already trains for most of the major breeders in Australia, including Coolmore and Yulong, but would certainly be a candidate for some of the better-credentialled homebred colts.

James Cummings to establish own training business as Godolphin goes public

James Cummings will leave his role as Godolphin’s private trainer, ending months of speculation about his ongoing tenure, with Sheikh Mohammed’s Australian horses to be dispersed among various stables from the start of the new racing season.

The StraightTim Rowe

In terms of trainers who have had previous connections with Godolphin, Peter Snowden left on good terms, while Brad Widdup spent a decade with Godolphin before striking out on his own.

– Bren O’Brien

What happens to Godolphin’s staff?

The most unsettling part of the restructure of Godolphin’s racing arm and Cummings re-establishing a public stable is the impact on staff.

There’s no doubt that they will be looked after and paid their entitlements or redeployed where possible, but Cummings will also have key lieutenants in mind when his new stable doors open.

Nacim Dilmi was with Cummings during his Leilani Lodge days and he crossed to Godolphin upon his appointment, acting as his travelling foreman and right-hand man in Sydney for a number of years.

More recently, expatriate Frenchman Dilmi has been Cummings’ Carbine Lodge-based assistant trainer in Melbourne. Now with a young family, would Dilmi return to Sydney? Quite possibly.

Paul Reid, who works out of Osborne Park, is also known to be a trusted ally of Cummings and he could also be a major staffing appointment as would be some of Godolphin’s premier track riders, so pivotal to any stable’s success. 

– Tim Rowe

What will be the impact on bloodstock/yearling market?

There are a couple of aspects to this. Firstly, will this lead to a greater involvement from Godolphin at the yearling sales, and what will Cummings’ own involvement be?

On the first point, Godolphin has been a minor player in the local yearling market over the last few years. It has purchased eight yearlings since 2021, including Group 1 winner In Secret, but just one in the past two seasons. Generally, it buys fillies with a view to their long-term value to its broodmare band. 

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The start of the Vin Cox era in 2018 led to a swag of 20 purchases in a single year, but we are unlikely to see a revival of that approach. However, without the burden of funding private training facilities, and with relationships with different trainers, it wouldn’t surprise to see Godolphin more active in 2026. 

Godolphin remains busy on an international bloodstock scene, with 49 individual purchases across European and American Yearling and breeze-up sales in 2024. Just last week, it purchased three of the top four lots at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale. 

As for Cummings’ plans, he has missed almost all of the 2025 Australian yearling sales season, so will be relying on Godolphin and others for his two-year-olds next season. But it is likely he will be a significant player in 2026, especially if he partners with new owners/investors looking to support him.

– Bren O’Brien