Cummings to train in Hong Kong in 2026

Less than two months after Godolphin dropped the bombshell that James Cummings would not be their exclusive trainer in Australia, a new door has opened up for the Australian - a gateway to one of the most coveted overseas jobs, training in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) made the announcement at a press conference on June 11, with the grandson of legendary trainer Bart Cummings set to embark on the new journey from the start of the 2026-27 season in September 2026.
The 37-year-old was on hand at the official presentation helmed by HKJC's executive director of racing, Andrew Harding, at the Sha Tin Clubhouse, four months after South African trainer Brett Crawford was introduced as the latest addition - but to commence training duties in the 2025-26 season - at a similar briefing on Feb 7.
On its website, HKJC extolled Cummings as "one of the most exciting talents in global racing".
It highlighted his deep racing roots from one of Australian horse racing's most illustrious families.
Great-grandfather Jim was a leading trainer, saddling the 1950 Melbourne Cup winner Comic Court, while his better-known grandfather Bart is one of Australian horse racing's greatest figures with 246 Group 1 wins, including a record 12 Melbourne Cup wins.
The fourth-generation trainer actually cut his teeth on horse training with his famous grandfather to eventually train in partnership with him in 2013 until his death in August 2015.
Cummings' father Anthony and brother Edward have trained 24 and three Group 1 winners respectively, but the super achiever is the youngest member of the racing dynasty, no doubt aided by the superior stock at his disposal.
As Godolphin's head trainer in Australia since May 2017, when he was only 29, Cummings remains the youngest trainer in Australian racing history to achieve 50 group 1 wins by the age of 36.That figure now stands at 52.
Some of his notable Group 1 silverware among his haul of more than 1,500 winners feature the Cox Plate (Anamoe in 2022), Australian Cup (Cascadian in 2023 and 2024), Newmarket Handicap (Bivouac in 2020, In Secret in 2023, Cylinder in 2024), Golden Slipper (Kiamichi in 2019), Doncaster Handicap (Cascadian in 2021), Randwick Guineas (Kementari in 2018) and Caulfield Guineas (Anamoe in 2021).
Boasting a strike rate of 17 per cent, Cummings is a name seldom unsighted on the weekly winners' list in and around Australia, be it at his Sydney headquarters or at the other cities in Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide and their provincial circuits.
Some of his best horses include Anamoe, Hartnell, Cascadian, Tom Kitten, Bivouac, Broadsiding and Avilius, all for Godolphin.
In the meantime, it will be business as usual as he continues to train for the Blue Army until the end of the current Australian season on July 31, as contractually agreed.
On June 14, his focus shifts to his three-horse team at the Brisbane Winter Carnival in Eagle Farm where Golden Mile and Zebra Finch contest the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1,400m) and Group 1 race for two-year-olds, the J.J. Atkins (1,600m) respectively.
The third contender is Pisces in the opening event, the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1,600m).
But, speculation abounds whether he will start, let alone see out the next season as a freelancer, or he will take a sabbatical in light of the Hong Kong move.
Shortly after the Godolphin news broke, Cummings had earlier said he would carry on training, even for Sheikh Mohamed's leviathan operation as and when required.
He was also in the mix to take over his grandfather's famous Leilani Lodge at Royal Randwick, a family legacy his father Anthony lost when his trainer's licence was revoked by Racing NSW in February due to his financial woes.
He has now withdrawn his application, with reigning Melbourne champion trainer Ciaron Maher cited as one of the favourites to get the nod.
manyan@sph.com.sg

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

New Paper

4 hours ago

• New Paper

Trawlerman nets Gold at Ascot

ASCOT Trawlerman produced a stunning performance to lead from pillar to post and win Royal Ascot's most historic race, the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4,000m) on Thursday, June 19, for the almighty Godolphin and in-form father-and-son training partnership John and Thady Gosden. It was quite some way for jockey William Buick to win his first Gold Cup aged 36, the winner also breaking the track record. Norway-born Buick, who won Wednesday's feature, the Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes (2,000m) on Ombudsman, also for Team Gosden-Godolphin, stood up in the irons to salute the crowd punching the air on the Golden Horn seven-year-old. "He's a great horse, only beaten by the great Kyprios last year," said Buick, in reference to the dual winner and defending champion who was recently retired. "I did not have to put the brakes on once. He was on autopilot - I was just a passenger. My first Gold Cup, long time coming, not an easy race to win. I am delighted." For the Gosdens, it was their second win in the race since they teamed up but, for John it was his fifth, having trained the legendary Stradivarius to three successive victories (2018-20). "He (Trawlerman) just goes off, William said 'he can judge pace better than me'," said Gosden senior of the veteran of nine wins. "We know he stays. They never got to him, simply outstayed them. He's part of the furniture, he's a favourite. "He ran Kyprios close, it is great to come back to show he's a proper Cup horse, and he is a lovely staying horse for the future." Gosden, 74, is usually as well informed as anyone but the Cambridge economics graduate was caught off guard when being told it was Buick's first Gold Cup. "Really? A fabulous jockey," purred Gosden. The Gosdens' five winners this year are welcomed after a disappointing Royal Ascot last year. "Last year was tricky, we've aimed at this for 4-5-6 months, great when it comes to fulfilment," he said. "One has to be realistic, there are always plenty of banana skins around the corner." While Aidan O'Brien's fancied runner Illinois never landed a blow on Trawlerman, the Irish master combined with his stable jockey Ryan Moore for a treble to move to 96 Royal Ascot victories for O'Brien and 90 for Moore. Odds-on favourite Charles Darwin prevailed in the opening Group 2 Norfolk Stakes (1,000m), before Garden Of Eden took the honours in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes (2,400m). Trinity University wrapped up the prolific haul in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes (2,000m). AFP

New Paper

4 hours ago

• New Paper

Satono Reve in need of Magic in QEII Jubilee

ASCOT Horses from Ireland and France have flown miles to Royal Ascot to contest the £1 million (S$1.73 million) Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m), but Satono Reve has travelled over 13,000km from Japan. No horse has made the journey and won in 10 tries to conquer Britain's most iconic race meeting, but no Japanese contender has been as good as Satono Reve. The Lord Kanaloa six-year-old is a Group 1 winner in Japan, but is probably better known for finishing second to Ka Ying Rising in the HK$22 million Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) at Sha Tin on April 27 - which is no better endorsement given that Ka Ying Rising is the best sprinter in the world. Satono Reve arrived in Newmarket on May 2 to be given plenty of time to prepare and has been stabled at James Horton's yard. "After arriving from Hong Kong, Satono Reve had some time to recover before steadily building up his training," said his trainer Noriyuki Hori. "He had his final gallop on June 11, a five-furlong (1,000m) piece of work on the July Course at Newmarket, ridden by Ryan Moore. "Although it's a different environment from what he's used to, he's been coming along well thanks to the warm support of James Horton, his team and everyone involved." Satono Reve will be ridden by Joao Moreira. The Brazilian jockey known as the "Magic Man" was in the saddle when Satono Reve won the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo in Japan on March 30. "He's such a good horse," said the globetrotting jockey. "I'm excited about riding him at Ascot. He just needs to bring that type of form here to be competitive." The French-trained Lazzat leads the opposition, with trainer Jerome Reynier confident of a good performance. "He has such a high cruising speed," said the French trainer. "His last run was his first over as short as 1,200 (metres), but he can take a good grip and stay on well. I think he is the perfect match for the race." Last year, Inisherin was the easy winner of a Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot on fast ground, the Commonwealth Cup (1,200m). The Shamardal four-year-old was subsequently rather disappointing but returned to win the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes (1,200m) on May 14. Trainer Kevin Ryan could not conceal his delight at York. "That's a relief. I was nervous but it went well," he said. "He'll improve for that run. I'm delighted because he's such a lovable, sensible horse." The formidable duo of trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore, who have already claimed five races after three days at Royal Ascot, command respect with their representative Storm Boy. The only three-year-old in the race, the Justify colt moved from Australia to Ireland this year. Last year he won sprints up to Group 2 level for leading Sydney trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, but finished last when favourite on his UK debut last month in Ireland. The Coolmore ward will surely do better, as O'Brien would not run him if he was not confident of a better performance. The race in which Storm Boy was last was won by the Clive Cox-trained James's Delight, who is a live outsider in Saturday's contest. HKJC

Straits Times

6 hours ago

• Straits Times

Mamelodi Sundowns hope for upset in key clash against Borussia Dortmund

Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group F - Ulsan HD v Mamelodi Sundowns - Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S. - June 17, 2025 Mamelodi Sundowns' Iqraam Rayners celebrates scoring their first goal with Arthur REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group F - Ulsan HD v Mamelodi Sundowns - Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S. - June 17, 2025 Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso after the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Nathan Ray Seebeck/File Photo REUTERS CINCINNATI, OH - South African club Mamelodi Sundowns are hoping a perfect storm on Saturday hands them a chance of success against heavily fancied Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund when the two meet at the Club World Cup. Sundowns, who were runners-up in the African Champions League earlier this month, sit on top of Group F after beating South Korean side Ulsan HD 1-0 in their opening game but expect to be on the back foot for Saturday's clash at the TQL Stadium. For coach Miguel Cardoso, however, an upset result is possible even if the odds are slim. 'Upsets can happen when the mental conviction of the team is strong and their emotional connection is so strong that magic can happen,' he told a press conference on Friday. 'And that's what I will try to create as an ambiance in the team; ambition, conviction, determination and the right emotion to play such a game and produce a good result.' But Cardoso expects that his side, who enjoyed the lion's share of possession in a dominant performance in their opening game, will not see much of the ball. 'We're going to play against a team that is very aggressive. It's a team that scores 40% of their goals from counter pressings.' It will be an unusual situation for Sundowns, who dominate their domestic competition with a possession-heavy approach and are also a strong force in African continental competition. 'We won't be used to not having the ball much and obviously that will require us to be resilient and keep organised, even when you are just waiting for the moment to get the ball again,' Cardoso added. Sundowns are the only African side with a win at the tournament. 'We are very proud of that. What has happened now is that we have opened up a chance for ourselves and turned dreams into objectives," said Cardoso. 'But we know what we have ahead and it won't be easy.' Sundowns' last group game will be against Brazilian side Fluminense next Wednesday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.