By Craig Kerry
James Cummings, the grandson of late Melbourne Cup king Bart Cummings, is set to take the next major step in his training career in Hong Kong.
The 37-year-old, already a 52-time group 1 winner, was on Wednesday announced by the Hong Kong Jockey Club today as a new trainer for the 2026-27 season, which starts in September next year.
Cummings will finish his more than eight-year his tenure as Godolphin Australia’s head trainer on July 31 after the racing giant’s announcement in late April that it would be moving to a public training model.
He was set to build his own team, with support from the likes of Godolphin and Dynamic Syndications, but that plan now looks in doubt given his decision to accept the HKJC invitation.
The move also means Cummings has withdrawn from the battle to take over Leilani Lodge at Royal Randwick, where he began his training career with his famous grandfather, who was based there during a career that yielded 12 Melbourne Cups.
The 55-box stable complex was vacated after James’ father Anthony had his trainer’s licence revoked by Racing NSW in February because of his financial difficulties.
James Cummings has carved out a formidable record after getting his start training with grandfather Bart.Credit: Eddie Jim
Anthony and his son Edward fought briefly to keep the stables before the Australian Turf Club called for expressions of interest to trainers in the complex.
Top trainer Ciaron Maher, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team, and James Cummings were the applicants for the stables. The ATC board discussed the applications at a board meeting last month and decision is expected next month.
Cummings’ decision means Maher will firm again as favourite to take over the stables and expand his reach further into Sydney racing.
Cummings had spoken this season about his interest in training in Hong Kong, if an invitation came, amid talk of strategic changes at Godolphin, making Wednesday’s news not a complete shock.
However, it comes after news just last week that he would have use of Godolphin’s Carbine Lodge at Flemington past this season to kick-start his move into the public training arena.
Cummings will join the likes of fellow Australians David Hayes, John Size and Mark Newnham as trainers in the famed and lucrative Hong Kong racing district.
Trainers under the HKJC banner are restricted to 70 horses, making it a steep departure for Cummings, who has 227 horses registered under his name.
