Maher wins race for Leilani Lodge as Cummings’ attachment to Randwick stables ends

Australia’s premier trainer Ciaron Maher will move into Randwick’s Leilani Lodge, officially ending the Cummings family’s near 50-year association with the stables.

The Australian Turf Club confirmed on Thursday morning that the board had granted Maher access to the 59-box on-course stable complex on High Street adjacent to Sydney’s best-known racecourse, Royal Randwick.

Maher, whose NSW operation also has boxes at Warwick Farm, Bong Bong and at Bobs Farm north of Newcastle, was awarded Leilani Lodge over fellow applicants Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

James Cummings, whose eight-year term as Godolphin Australia’s private trainer will conclude at the end of the current season, withdrew his application for the stables after receiving a contract to train in Hong Kong, beginning in 2026/27.

Expressions of interest for Leilani Lodge were called for by the ATC after Cummings’ father Anthony had his trainer’s licence revoked by Racing NSW earlier this year owing to financial difficulties.

James’ brother Edward, who had attempted to take over the training business at Leilani Lodge from his father, is now training from Hawkesbury.

“Ciaron Maher’s new stable at Royal Randwick adds further depth to the strength of training ranks in Sydney,’’ ATC head of racing and wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said.

Maher, Australia’s leading trainer with 279 winners so far this season and prize money of more than $57.2 million, has placed increased importance on his NSW operation in recent years.

He has leased Bong Bong Farm in the NSW Southern Highlands from Racing NSW, which paid $22.5 million for the lavish training facility from owner Paul Fudge in 2021, since mid-2023.

As a result of Maher’s successful application for Leilani Lodge, he will relinquish his Warwick Farm stables of 30 boxes now that he has a base at Randwick in Sydney’s east.

He has trained 71 winners in NSW this season, 39 of them at metropolitan level, placing him fourth on the Sydney trainers’ premiership behind Chris Waller (130 winners), Bjorn Baker (83) and the Randwick-based Waterhouse and Bott (62).

Maher, who has built his gigantic stable from humble beginnings in Warrnambool, is currently second on the Victorian trainers’ premiership with 190 winners, 28 behind Lindsay Park’s Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

He has bases at Cranbourne, Ballarat and Fingal to complement his array of stables in NSW.