Straight Up – Racing’s insiders and outsiders find common Derby ground
In this edition:
- With a few regrets and no time for a holiday, James Cummings is ready to go his own way
- Sliding doors and Google Maps – an unlikely route to the South Australian Derby
- Five unanswered questions after James Cummings and Godolphin split
A lot of people are born into racing.
There is no finer example of this status than James Cummings, the articulate, university-educated racehorse trainer who has been at the helm of Godolphin’s Australian training operation since 2017.
The 37-year-old is a fourth-generation trainer in a family that is as close to Australian racing royalty as you can get.
Cummings trained in unison with one of the greats. Alongside an icon of the sport, he blended old-school ways with a modern approach.
When his legendary grandfather Bart – a national treasure who transcended racing as the Cups King – died in 2015, Cummings was as prepared as anyone at such a tender age to assume his own identity as a trainer.
Two years later, one of the most coveted positions in the thoroughbred world belonged to Cummings when he was handed the keys to Godolphin’s Australian stable.
It’s been a partnership of unqualified success. Almost 50 Group 1 victories and a steady flow of colts, led by the Cox Plate winner Anamoe, earning their place on the roster of Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operations in NSW and Victoria.
But nothing lasts forever. Amid ongoing industry speculation, Cummings and Godolphin this week issued a joint statement announcing changes to the way the stable’s racing will be structured.
Godolphin will no longer employ a private trainer in Australia. Cummings will return to the public arena but will do so with a safety net of stocking his new stable with selected horses from his soon-to-be former boss.
We delved into the crystal ball to see what the future holds for Cummings in a piece compiled by Bren O’Brien and Tim Rowe.
Everything from a possible training base to the impact his decision will have on the yearling sales market is covered.
Today, we have spoken to the man himself with Matt Stewart providing an insight on Cummings’ plans, the reasons behind the move and the enthusiasm for the task ahead as he prepares to end his Godolphin tenure at the end of the season.
With a few regrets and no time for a holiday, James Cummings is ready to go his own way
Cummings will have a South Australia Derby runner on Saturday when Lavalier takes his place in the Group 1 race where he is one of the main threats to the favourite Statuario.
It’s a match-up that emphasises how Australian racing is often a great equaliser.
Statuario is an $18,000 yearling who runs under the banner of Toward Reward Thoroughbreds, a relative newcomer to the syndication ranks.
Except for the Melbourne Cup, syndicator Matt Sellick admits he had little knowledge of the thoroughbred industry when, out of curiosity more than anything else, he ventured to Moonee Valley for the first time.
That was about the same time Cummings was beginning his tenure at Godolphin, and it’s been a steep but profitable learning curve ever since for the former refrigeration mechanic.
At Morphettville, those ambitions will intersect with Cummings’ bid to win the race his great-grandfather, grandfather and his father Anthony have all won.
In other racing news this week, we can expect a move from West Australian officials to have the $5 million Quokka attain black-type status for 2026 and increased penalties for the use of ‘jiggers’ are now in place.
And while a fall put an early end to Steve Pateman’s Warrnambool carnival, we found out about the jockey’s role in a jumps industry that keeps reinventing itself.
Don’t forget to check out this week’s edition of The Straight Talk Podcast, with feature interviews with bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills and Yarraman Park’s Harry Mitchell.
Subscribe or listen on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or Podbean, or watch below.
What you may have missed this week:
- Final call – chief commentators in Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart depart in Tabcorp purge
- Run The Numbers – A seven-figure Charm
- ‘We want to hand-pick our mares’ – Yarraman makes shock cut to I Am Invincible’s service fee
- Rowe On Monday – Encosta De Lago’s legacy powers on and why Darren Thomas is racing’s quiet achiever
- Contrasting trans-Tasman fortunes for Entain
- Betr together – Rival makes a strong case for PointsBet acquisition
Enjoy your racing weekend,
Warwick Barr
Senior Editor
The Straight
