Rowe On Monday – Anthony Cummings moves on as bloodstock role takes shape, Hellbent’s Hong Kong momentum and a winner for Kia Ora’s Captivant

Anthony Cummings accepts training fate

Anthony Cummings says he’s come to terms with the end of his training career, one that was brought to an abrupt conclusion by crippling debt, reportedly more than $2 million.

It was a situation that long-time Randwick-based Cummings contested after the regulator stepped in asking him to show-cause as to why his trainer’s licence shouldn’t be revoked because it said he couldn’t meet his financial obligations.

“It’s all swings and roundabouts, isn’t it? I’m still in it, still doing things. I’ve got a business still to tidy up, and I’ve been selling some horses, and (I have) a bit of a tear doing that with some things you’ve spent a bit of time with and tried to develop and whatever, but that’ll be to the benefit of the next guys, and it’s fine,” Cummings told this column at the NZB Ready to Run Sale earlier this month.

“I still run a small breeding program and sort of get some joy out of that, and so I’m not out of it by any means. 

“It’s just different. And I’m more than happy to help James and Edward as well, and hopefully see them maintain the levels that they’ve got to so far.”

Cummings Sr trained a winning double at Nowra on February 9 in what would be his last runners. 

Soon after, Racing NSW rescinded his licence and expressions of interest were called for by the Australian Turf Club to take over Cummings’ Leilani Lodge on High Street.

Ciaron Maher will soon occupy the stables that have been associated with the Cummings family for the best part of five decades.

Cummings was at Karaka assisting son James, who will take up training in Hong Kong from the start of next season.

He says he feels more for his other son, Edward who was dragged into the financial turmoil which ended his own training career.

Edward, a Group 1-winning trainer in his own right, is back operating from Hawkesbury.

“He got the worst of all that we went through in that he sort of brought all the horses in, and they were all at the Leilani Lodge, and while the club had given him permission to train from there, (Racing NSW denied him the licence),” Cummings said.

“I always had a different view, and they sort of pressed that, and so he finished up out of it, out of the stable, as we both did, but he then had to go back and rebuild from nothing. So, that’s pretty tough, but he’s copped it on the chin.

“He’s there. He’s got a full stable now, and they’re getting back into a routine, and so the rebuilding phase continues, but he’ll be fine. 

“He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll get back to that sort of Group 1 success level.”

Cummings is philosophical about his situation and prepared to assist his sons (and other clients) in a bloodstock capacity.

“There was a bit of pressure at the finish, and to get away from all that and have a holiday, I think it’s good for anyone in any situation, so I was no different,” he says.

“You’re always going to be around and be accessible, so none of that changes much, but there is a whole lot less pressure now than there used to be, and I’ve just got to make the most out of what I’ve got.”

Hellbent’s Hong Kong fortunes on the rise

Pensioned Newgate Farm stallion Deep Field has made the running for the fifth straight Hong Kong season, leading this year’s sires’ premiership a little over two months into 2025/26.

He has sired eight individual winners, four ahead of his nearest rivals Zoustar, Wrote, Starspangledbanner, Charm Spirit, U S Navy Flag, Fastnet Rock and Savabeel.

However, amid the hype around the brilliant wins of Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin on Sunday, two four-year-olds by Hellbent also demonstrated that they could reach the upper echelons of Hong Kong racing in the coming months.

Trainer Ricky Yiu’s Sky Joy won a Class 3 over 1200 metres, making it three wins from five starts, and a line can be drawn through his form via Public Attention, who ran second on Sunday.

The former Coolmore-owned Public Attention, who was trained by Mick Price and Mick Kent Jr, won the Eskimo Prince in February – defeating Linebacker – and he also ran third in the Arrowfield in April at his final Australian start.

Earlier on the card, the Mark Newnham-trained Invincible Ibis made it back-to-back wins over 1400 metres under premier jockey Zac Purton. It was also just his fifth start and his first in Class 3 company.

The momentum of Hellbent in Hong Kong is likely to continue, with trainer Me Tsui paying $220,000 for a colt by the stallion at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale and another two from the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale also appear destined for Sha Tin.

At the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, the only Hellbent two-year-old catalogued also sold to a Hong Kong Jockey Club permit holder.

Hellbent is the sire of three winners so far in Hong Kong this season, with 19 horses by the Yarraman Park stallion in training at either Sha Tin or the mainland China facility, Conghua.

A Captivating return for Graham with Vantorix

A Taree maiden or not, a two-year-old beating older horses on debut bodes well for Vantorix, a first-crop son of Kia Ora’s Captivant who bolted in at his first start on Sunday.

Vantorix’s decisive 2-1/2 length victory at the NSW mid north coast track also marked the return of Port Macquarie-based trainer Jenny Graham, who had not had a runner for two-and-a-half years.

And the market suggested the win was expected, with as much as $6.50 (after deductions) bet early about Vantorix, who was $1.90 in $1.55 in the final 30 minutes of betting.

The two-year-old was what now has to be considered a bargain $30,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase, being the half-brother to this season’s San Domenico Stakes-winning sprinter Raging Force.

There were clues in his pedigree about his possible ability that have become apparent in the months since Graham bought the now gelding. 

At the time, the Richard McClenahan-bred Vantorix’s year-older sibling had raced just once, finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Plate, but in his seven starts since he’s won four and banked $350,000.

Vantorix’s owners may be in for a significant payday of their own with the $400,000 Inglis Nursery, a sales-restricted two-year-old race, possibly on the cards at Randwick on December 13.

McClenahan’s Mullaglass Stud will offer Vantorix’s Zousain half-brother at next year’s Classic Sale.

Welcome back @jennygrahamrace!

Two-year-old Vantorix, Jenny's first runner since May 2023, wins impressively on debut at @ManningClub beating older horses. @AshMorgan6 guided the gelding home over Dandeelion Wishes and Smokey Saint. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/wh737xNs3v

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) November 23, 2025