Cummings to train in Hong Kong in 2026
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
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