Trainer James Cummings to train in Hong Kong from 2026-27
James Cummings has withdrawn his application for the famous Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick after accepting an offer to train in Hong Kong.
Cummings flew to Hong Kong on Tuesday to front a press conference this morning in which the Hong Kong Jockey Club confirmed the trainer would move there for the start of the 2026-27 season.
It's a real coup for Hong Kong racing to secure one of Sydney's most outstanding trainers.
Cummings' tenure as Godolphin's private trainer comes to an end on July 31. He will take a 'sabbatical'' from training before he moves to Hong Kong next year.
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'This wasn't a decision I made lightly. With the upcoming conclusion of my exclusive role at Godolphin, I have carefully considered the right path forward,'' Cummings said.
'While continuing to train in Australia was my intention, the opportunity in Hong Kong presented a unique and respected environment to challenge myself and grow further as a trainer. This is a progression to the next stage of my career in a new jurisdiction.''
Cummings said he was privileged to lead a 'talented and committed team' at Godolphin since 2017.
'In deciding not to train next season, I also wanted to be fair to my staff by giving them the opportunity to commit to a long-term role with another stable,'' he said.
'To the owners who had already been forthcoming in their support, I want to express my sincerest appreciation.
'I felt it would be unfair to continue, only to step away and leave the team and yearlings without guidance during a pivotal stage in their development.'
Cummings has been reconsidering his future since Godolphin Australia recently made a bombshell announcement that it was moving to a public training model from August 1. The trainer had lodged an application to take over the vacant Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick.
The Australian Turf Club's board of directors is due to meet this week to discuss which trainer will be allocated the 60-boxes at Leilani Lodge where Bart Cummings trained so successfully for more than 40 years.
An original Hall of Fame inductee, Bart Cummings prepared some of his greatest champions out of Leilani Lodge including Saintly, So You Think, Beau Zam, Shaftesbury Avenue, Sky Chase, Campaign King, Dane Ripper and many others.
The nation's leading trainer, Ciaron Maher, and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team are the clear favourites to be given the keys to the Randwick stables which have been vacant since the licence of James's father, Anthony Cummings, was revoked earlier this year.
The famous Leilani Lodge stables at Randwick.
• Comeback star can give Cummings a Golden send-off in Stradbroke
James Cummings is only 37 years of age and has already trained 52 career Group 1 winners including two with his legendary grandfather, Bart.
To put this achievement into context, Bart Cummings and Tommy Smith didn't train their 50th Group 1 winner until they turned 45.
Chris Waller may rewrite all the training records but he didn't get to 50 big race wins until he was 42.
In fact, the only other trainer to reach 50 Group 1 wins before the age of 40 was Lee Freedman who was 38.
Cummings has been Godolphin's trainer since 2017 and has been hugely successful for the global racing and breeding giant, preparing 48 Group 1 winners for the 'Blue Army' and more than $200 million prizemoney.
Anamoe has been Godolphin's best horse during the Cummings era winning nine Group 1 races including the 2022 Cox Plate and earning Horse of the Year honours in 2022-23.
Cummings trained a Golden Slipper quinella in 2019 with Kiamichi and Microphone, and the winners of the Golden Eagle (Colette, 2019), Doncaster Mile (Cascadian, 2021), Epsom Handicap (Hartnell, 2018), Tancred Stakes (Avilius, 2019) and two Golden Roses with Broadsiding (2024) and Bivouac (2019).
The champion trainer also enjoyed tremendous success for Godolphin interstate preparing the winners of the All Star Mile (Tom Kitten, 2025), two Australian Cups (Cascadian 2023, 2024), three Newmarket Handicaps (Bivouac, 2020, In Secret, 2023 and Cylinder, 2024), two VRC Oaks (Zardozi, 2024 and Willowy, 2021), two Caulfield Guineas (Anamoe, 2021 and Golden Mile, 2022) and the Stradbroke Handicap (Trekking, 2019).
Originally published as James Cummings accepts offer to train in Hong Kong from the 2026-27 season
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