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.

Staff were informed at a 9:30am meeting on Wednesday that Cummings would venture out as a public trainer for the first time since 2017, with the support of Godolphin which has pledged to give horses to the 50-time Group 1 winner to train.

Cummings will fulfil his contract, which expires on July 31, by continuing to train horses from Osborne Park at Agnes Banks, Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm and Carbine Lodge at Flemington.

In a statement, Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv dismissed speculation about the local arm’s own long-term future, suggesting “moving away from a private training model gives us greater business agility”.

Godolphin has used a private training model, outside a few horses who have been trained firstly by Lee Freedman and now Anthony and Sam Freedman, since it purchased Woodlands in 2007 from the Ingham family.

“We will continue to have the same number of horses in training — it’s fundamental to what we do,” Makiv said. 

“As a stallion business, Group 1 winners like Anamoe, Bivouac, Broadsiding and Cylinder have all come through our commitment to racing. 

“Our numbers have and will remain stable, just as they have been for the past five years.” 

The trainer of 48 Group 1 winners for Godolphin since assuming the role in 2017 as the replacement for John O’Shea, Cummings has overseen the careers of nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe – Godolphin’s most successful racehorse – as well as top sprinters Bivouac and Cylinder and the recently retired four-time Group 1-winning colt Broadsiding.

“The time is right for me to take the next step in my career and launch my own venture as a public trainer,” Cummings said in the joint statement. 

“I’ve been fortunate to work with exceptional horses and a dedicated team during my time at Godolphin, and together we’ve celebrated many memorable successes.  

“This experience has been incredibly rewarding and has taught me invaluable lessons, both professionally and personally. 

“I’m deeply grateful to Godolphin for their ongoing support and I look forward with great anticipation to this exciting new chapter.”

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Makiv said Cummings would be integral to managing the spring campaigns of Godolphin’s flagship horses.

“We are in discussions with James to lead the campaigns of horses like the outstanding two-year-old Tempted, Tom Kitten on his path to the Cox Plate, and VRC Oaks winner Zardozi,” Makiv said. 

“We remain absolutely committed to breeding and racing in our famous Godolphin blue silks.”

The statement did not say where Cummings would base his new public stable nor what would happen with Godolphin’s valuable training facilities in New South Wales and at Flemington in Victoria.  

There has been growing conjecture about the ongoing partnership between Cummings and Godolphin. The trainer’s presence at the Inglis Easter Cocktail Party at Bondi Icebergs on April 4, which was attended by numerous racing and breeding movers and shakers, was noted by industry observers as another indication that he was building external relationships ahead of an imminent split.

Cummings is currently 19th on the Australian trainers’ premiership table for this season, with 61 winners at a strike rate of 12 per cent. They have banked $15.49 million in prizemoney.

Run The Numbers – James Cummings’ fast 50

Broadsiding’s victory on Saturday was not only his trainer’s third Golden Rose success, it represented James Cummings’ 50th Group 1 win overall, something only 14 trainers in Australian history have achieved. This week’s Run The Numbers breaks down the trainer’s stats in elite races.

The StraightBren O’Brien

On April 8, the Australian Turf Club officially called for expressions of interest from trainers to take over Leilani Lodge on High Street, Randwick, where the Cummings family, including his father Anthone and grandfather Bart, has trained for five decades.

Anthony, who had been based at Leilani Lodge since the death of his father Bart in 2015, was stripped of his trainer’s licence earlier this year due to financial difficulties. 

Godolphin’s stallion business Darley has had a recent resurgence. 

The recent announcement of the return of champion young shuttle stallion Too Darn Hot, the sire of Broadsiding and nine other southern hemisphere-bred stakes winners from two crops, was seen as a sign of faith in the Australian breeding arm.

He will stand for a fee of $275,000 (inc GST).

‘The hottest stallion in the world right now’ – Why Too Darn Hot’s return means so much for Godolphin in Australia

Confirmation that Too Darn Hot will resume shuttling duties in 2025, is an important signal by Godolphin of its ongoing commitment to the Australian racing and breeding industries.

The StraightTim Rowe