Cummings Named Godolphin Trainer

James Cummings | Godolphin

James Cummings was on Tuesday officially announced as the new Head Trainer for Godolphin in Australia, ending weeks of speculation that the 29-year-old would take the reins after the sudden resignation of John O'Shea last month. Cummings will begin the position on July 8, taking over from interim head trainer Darren Beadman, who will return to his former role as assistant trainer.

“It is truly an honor to be asked to join the Godolphin team as the Head Trainer in Australia and I am very grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for the opportunity,” said Cummings. “I am confident in my experience and I definitely have the enthusiasm to build on the incredible success that has already been achieved by Godolphin in Australia. I have been very fortunate in my career so far to have learnt my trade from some of the best in the business and I will be forever grateful to the fantastic and loyal owners that have supported me in my career so far, in particular Eduardo Cojuanco Jr and Dato Tan Chin Nam.”

Cummings has already delivered on the promise of his own pedigree in his short career as a trainer. The grandson of Australia's legendary trainer Bart Cummings has worked at his grandfather's former headquarters, Leilani Lodge at Randwick, for about a decade, spending four years as a foreman before taking out his trainer's license in 2013. He trained in partnership with Bart Cummings until his grandfather's death in August of 2015, at which time he took over the running of Leilani Lodge. Cummings has trained 108 winners on his own, including the dual Group 1 winner Prized Icon (Aus) (More Than Ready).

“James is a great fit for Godolphin and his appointment is an exciting new chapter in the Godolphin story in Australia,” said Henry Plumptre, Godolphin Managing Director in Australia. “In a short space of time James has established himself as one of the most talented trainers in Australia and he has all the attributes to take us in the direction we want to go as a racing team both on and off the track.”

It is uncertain what will happen with Leilani Lodge, which has been occupied by the Cummings family since Bart took over there in the early 1970s, but trainer Anthony Cummings, Bart's son and James's father, expressed his desire to keep it in the family, telling Racenet.com.au, “As I understand it the club has spoken to a couple of people about the stables but exactly what happens I don't think anyone knows as yet. My name's in the mix so we just have to wait and see. That really depends on owners' support what happens there.”

Of his son's new role, Cummings added, “To make that sort of impact on the scene in such a short time, in what is probably one of the most competitive training arenas anywhere in the world, speaks very well of him. I think it's good. It always gives you that sense of pride when your kids do well.”

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