Fourth-generation trainer James Cummings was appointed as Godolphin's head trainer in Australia in May 2017.
Prior to joining Godolphin’s ranks, James dedicated nearly a decade to the thoroughbred at Leilani Lodge, Randwick where he worked alongside his legendary grandfather, Bart Cummings, before eventually assuming full responsibility for the stable's operations.
James made the perfect start as Godolphin Australia’s head trainer, with his very first runner in the royal blue silks coming home a winner.
He was responsible for his first G1 winner just three months later, when Alizee took the G1 Flight Stakes at Royal Randwick in September 2017.
Beginners’ luck has by no means been the narrative of the James Cummings/ Godolphin partnership, with James saddling more than 230 Black Type winners and a rising 40 G1 wins for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.
Under James’s guidance, Godolphin’s Australian G1 honour roll includes household names Astern, Bivouac, Microphone and Cascadian, In Secret, Kementari, Hartnell and Colette, spearheaded by Godolphin’s most prolific top-flight winner, nine-time G1 winning Horse of the Year, Anamoe.
James has trained Champion two-year-old’s, Champion three-year-old’s, World Champion Sprinters and quinellaed the 2019 G1 Golden Slipper, the world’s richest race for juveniles, all in the Godolphin blue silks.
Other milestones with Godolphin include victories in Australia’s most prestigious G1 races: the Sires’ Produce, Blue Diamond, Randwick Guineas, Caulfield Guineas, Rosehill Guineas, Flight Stakes, George Main Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Cox Plate, Darley Sprint Classic, Newmarket, Golden Rose and Australia Cup, to name but a few.
James divides his time between Godolphin’sprivate training facility, Osborne Park, in Sydney, Carbine Lodge in Melbourne and the two-year-old training stable, Crown Lodgein Sydney.
