There is a clarity in silence for a thoughtful James Cummings as he looks towards Saturday’s Cox Plate.
The man in charge of producing major winners in Australia for Godolphin, the most recognised racing brand in the world, has found his quiet place – by switching off the distraction of reading, or listening to, the media.
Cox Plate favourite Anamoe is ready to give trainer James Cummings a second Australian racing major on Saturday,Credit:Getty
The 34-year-old always used to be curious as to what the wider world thought of him and his horses, but in the past year he has turned off the outside noise.
“There is quietness in the silence,” Cummings said. “I am oblivious to what is going around racing because I don’t read or listen to anything in the media these days. I just concentrate on my horses. It’s the best thing I have ever done.”
Cummings, who is a keen golfer, was inspired to make the move after hearing a story about Rory McIlroy.
“Rory said that on Sunday at PGA tournaments all the players are watching the coverage in the locker room before they went out. He walked in and said, ‘That isn’t doing you guys any good’,” Cummings explained. “It is pretty simple really.
“You can only control what you can control, and you don’t need any white noise in your head. There is an intrinsic value in having a one-track focus on your process and nothing but your own process.”
But there won’t be any media bans from Cummings – a smart, articulate trainer who knows it’s the way to connect with punters and express what he likes about his string of bluebloods. But don’t ask about anything outside of his team.
“You guys have got a place to promote our sport, which is extremely important. I will always promote our great sport but I’m better off focusing on winning races,” Cummings said.
“I can tell you about our magnificent horses like Anamoe and Golden Mile and give a better insight into them because of that focus.”
Cummings knows he will be judged by his results – and his group 1 winners, in particular. He has won four this season already but it is success in one of the four majors he craves. He only has one win in the so-called grand slam of Australian racing – a Golden Slipper from Kiamichi in 2019.
James Cummings and James McDonald with Anamoe after his win in the Might And Power Stakes.Credit:Getty
Anamoe, although a six-time group 1 winer and unbeaten in three appearances at the highest level as a four-year-old, faces a date with destiny in the Cox Plate around Moonee Valley this afternoon.
His romps in the Sires Produce Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and Rosehill Guineas have risen his star, but a Cox Plate would define him as champion. It would put him alongside So You Think, a horse Cummings knows well, given it was trained by his grandfather Bart.
“Anamoe and So You Think are different horses,” Cummings warned. “They are not even similar as horses, but I understand the interest in comparing them.
“They are both horses that have converged on the Cox Plate with good records, ready to offer a peak performance as a four-year-old. So You Think did it and Anamoe has to do it against a good field on Saturday.”
Of course, So You Think had won the Cox Plate as a three-year-old, while Anamoe missed out by a short head after a long protest hearing at which the victory of State Of Rest was tested due to interference in the straight.
It is a theme in Anamoe’s career – second in the Golden Slipper, second in the Golden Rose, second in the Randwick Guineas. But it’s the Cox Plate that hurts Cummings.
“It would be so perfect for this horse to win a major,” Cummings said. “Anamoe is the quintessentially perfect Darley horse.
“He is going to be the most valuable horse that we have retired to the breeding barn when that day comes, as he has a great resume, but the Cox Plate would make it better.
“I think the two stallion-making races in Australia are the Golden Slipper and the Cox Plate and he has run second in both of them. But you are remembered for winning.”
Cummings fought hard to keep Anamoe in work as a four-year-old – and it was with the Cox Plate in mind.
Anamoe’s wins in the Winx Stakes, the George Main Stakes and the Might And Power Stakes were to have him at his top for this Saturday.
“He is ready to run the race of his campaign. And this has been his best campaign, so he is ready to run the best race of his career,” Cummings said.
Anamoe will eventually make his way onto the Darley stallion roster, where he will share a home with Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, who has a different challenge back in Sydney earlier in the day in the Callander-Presnell.
“Golden Mile only narrowly won the Caulfield Guineas, and probably didn’t handle Caulfield as well as we would have liked,” Cummings said. “But it wasn’t a wow performance.
“He is still getting to his peak and this is his opportunity for that wow performance and to get people talking about him how I think they should.
“I could have put him in the paddock, but you have not seen what is under the hood with Golden Mile yet.”
