Latest news with #LeilaniLodge
Herald Sun
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
At The Track: Decision on Leilani Lodge trainer delayed
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The protracted decision on which trainer takes over Leilani Lodge has been delayed until later this week. An Australian Turf Club subcommittee tabled a report on the famous Randwick stables last Friday that has been given to the board of directors to consider. It is expected a decision will be made by the end of the week but even that is not guaranteed given several directors are overseas. Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! Ciaron Maher, the nation's premier trainer, and the high profile Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott training partnership are the applicants to take over the famous racing stables at Royal Randwick. There is also speculation about what will happen to the Crown Lodge stables at Warwick Farm and the Osborne Park training and stabling facility near Agnes Banks when James Cummings completes his tenure at Godolphin at the end of next month. Godolphin Australia supremo Andy Makiv confirmed there has been interest from 'various parties' looking to acquire the training facilities, and also their Flemington stables. 'There has been plenty of interest in those (three) properties,' Makiv said. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Waterhouse-Bott stable struck early on Stradbroke Day when promising stayer Campaldino won the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm. Campaldino scored his fourth consecutive win with a strong staying performance under Tim Clark to beat Etna Rosso. The striking chestnut gelding's form surge began in Orange Cup followed by a Benchmark 78 at Kensington, Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and then the Brisbane Cup, giving Waterhouse her fourth win in the Eagle Farm 'two miler'. Campaldino is now likely to be given his chance to complete the rare Brisbane Cup-Melbourne Cup double - a feat achieved only twice by Viewed (2008) and Macdougal (1959). ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Champion jockey James McDonald will have another chance to equal 'Miracle' Mal Johnston's longstanding Group 1 riding record after his second placing on Hidden Achievement in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm. Hidden Achievement missed the start but McDonald then rode a brilliant race with the colt emerging as a challenger halfway down the straight only for local hero Cool Archie to respond under pressure and draw clear near the line. McDonald, who had been unwell during the week and was forced to forgo his Stradbroke Handicap ride on Rothfire when he couldn't make 55.5kg, has ridden 15 Australian Group 1 wins for the season, one behind Johnston's record he set back in 1979-80 when the legendary Kingston Town was in his prime. Although McDonald has left for England where he will ride at Royal Ascot this week, he will be back for the Tattersalls Tiara on June 28. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Asfoora can join Choisir as the only Australian sprinters to win twice at England's prestigious Royal Ascot carnival when she tries to defend her title in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1000m) on Tuesday. Despite the dominance of the Aussie speedsters at Royal Ascot in the last two decades, Choisir is the only two-time winner with his famous King's Stand Stakes-Golden Jubilee double in 2003. The King's Stand, now known as the King Charles III Stakes, has since been won by Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Scenic Blast (2009), Nature Strip (2022) and Asfoora last year. Black Caviar (2012) is the only other Australian-trained sprinter to win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (formerly Golden Jubilee) although Starspangledbanner (2010) and Merchant Navy (2018) won the race after being transferred to Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien. Asfoora's trainer Henry Dwyer told English media the mare had 'travelled over really well' and had settled back into familiar surroundings at Newmarket. Dwyer said he has decided to put the blinkers on Asfoora for Tuesday's big race on the opening day of Royal Ascot. 'I think the blinkers may have been the missing link and I've always wanted to put blinkers on her as she is quite a 'looky' horse,' Dwyer said. 'The blinkers might add that little one per cent we need.' Originally published as Ciaron Maher and the Gai Waterhouse - Adrian Bott partnership await verdict on famous Randwick stables
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Ciaron Maher and the Gai Waterhouse - Adrian Bott partnership await verdict on famous Randwick stables
The protracted decision on which trainer takes over Leilani Lodge has been delayed until later this week. An Australian Turf Club subcommittee tabled a report on the famous Randwick stables last Friday that has been given to the board of directors to consider. It is expected a decision will be made by the end of the week but even that is not guaranteed given several directors are overseas. Ciaron Maher, the nation's premier trainer, and the high profile Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott training partnership are the applicants to take over the famous racing stables at Royal Randwick. There is also speculation about what will happen to the Crown Lodge stables at Warwick Farm and the Osborne Park training and stabling facility near Agnes Banks when James Cummings completes his tenure at Godolphin at the end of next month. Godolphin Australia supremo Andy Makiv confirmed there has been interest from 'various parties' looking to acquire the training facilities, and also their Flemington stables. 'There has been plenty of interest in those (three) properties,' Makiv said. â– â– â– â– â– The Waterhouse-Bott stable struck early on Stradbroke Day when promising stayer Campaldino won the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm. Campaldino scored his fourth consecutive win with a strong staying performance under Tim Clark to beat Etna Rosso. Campaldino is simply too good in the G2 Brisbane Cup with Tim Clark in the saddle! ðŸ�† @GaiWaterhouse1 â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 The striking chestnut gelding's form surge began in Orange Cup followed by a Benchmark 78 at Kensington, Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and then the Brisbane Cup, giving Waterhouse her fourth win in the Eagle Farm 'two miler'. Campaldino is now likely to be given his chance to complete the rare Brisbane Cup- Melbourne Cup double - a feat achieved only twice by Viewed (2008) and Macdougal (1959). â– â– â– â– â– Champion jockey James McDonald will have another chance to equal 'Miracle' Mal Johnston's longstanding Group 1 riding record after his second placing on Hidden Achievement in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm. Hidden Achievement missed the start but McDonald then rode a brilliant race with the colt emerging as a challenger halfway down the straight only for local hero Cool Archie to respond under pressure and draw clear near the line. McDonald, who had been unwell during the week and was forced to forgo his Stradbroke Handicap ride on Rothfire when he couldn't make 55.5kg, has ridden 15 Australian Group 1 wins for the season, one behind Johnston's record he set back in 1979-80 when the legendary Kingston Town was in his prime. Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Although McDonald has left for England where he will ride at Royal Ascot this week, he will be back for the Tattersalls Tiara on June 28. â– â– â– â– â– Asfoora can join Choisir as the only Australian sprinters to win twice at England's prestigious Royal Ascot carnival when she tries to defend her title in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1000m) on Tuesday. Despite the dominance of the Aussie speedsters at Royal Ascot in the last two decades, Choisir is the only two-time winner with his famous King's Stand Stakes-Golden Jubilee double in 2003. The King's Stand, now known as the King Charles III Stakes, has since been won by Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Scenic Blast (2009), Nature Strip (2022) and Asfoora last year. ðŸ�‡ Memorable Racing Moments 2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣... Aussies love when one of their own takes on the world. Asfoora and @HDwyerRacing did just that at Royal @Ascot, following in the footsteps of Choisir, Takeover Target, Black Caviar and Nature Strip among others ðŸ'™ðŸ–¤ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 13, 2024 Black Caviar (2012) is the only other Australian-trained sprinter to win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (formerly Golden Jubilee) although Starspangledbanner (2010) and Merchant Navy (2018) won the race after being transferred to Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien. Asfoora's trainer Henry Dwyer told English media the mare had 'travelled over really well' and had settled back into familiar surroundings at Newmarket. Dwyer said he has decided to put the blinkers on Asfoora for Tuesday's big race on the opening day of Royal Ascot. 'I think the blinkers may have been the missing link and I've always wanted to put blinkers on her as she is quite a 'looky' horse,' Dwyer said. 'The blinkers might add that little one per cent we need.'
Daily Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Trainer James Cummings to train in Hong Kong from 2026-27
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! '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
Sydney Morning Herald
12-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why James Cummings picked Hong Kong over ‘bricks and mortar' of Leilani Lodge
James Cummings said people and his passion for training, not the 'bricks and mortar' of his family's Randwick stables at Leilani Lodge, were key factors in his decision to accept a contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club from September next year. Cummings' deal to join the famed racing district was announced on Wednesday, ending speculation about the 52-time group 1-winning trainer's future. The 37-year-old, the grandson of Melbourne Cup king Bart Cummings, was due to finish as Godolphin's head trainer on July 31 after the racing powerhouse's decision to move away from a private training model. Returning to the public ranks, Cummings was then set to face a battle with Ciaron Maher and the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott team to take over the 55-box stables of Leilani Lodge. Cummings' father, Anthony, was forced out of the stables in February after having his trainer's licence revoked because of his financial troubles. The Cummings family has occupied the stables since Bart established them in the early 1980s. The Australian Turf club has not announced a new tenant, but Maher, the nation's leading trainer, looks certain to get the nod after Cummings' withdrawal. Cummings said his decision to move to Hong Kong came without knowledge about who was getting Leilani Lodge. 'The ATC were very patient, and I respect the position they were in, and the decision hadn't been made at all. I never got that sense,' Cummings said. 'I wanted to know all the information that was on the table there, and I got to that position.' He said the potential to train out of Leilani Lodge again had been tempting but the need to provide clarity for staff and clients, given his chance in Hong Kong, was more important.
The Age
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Why James Cummings picked Hong Kong over ‘bricks and mortar' of Leilani Lodge
James Cummings said people and his passion for training, not the 'bricks and mortar' of his family's Randwick stables at Leilani Lodge, were key factors in his decision to accept a contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club from September next year. Cummings' deal to join the famed racing district was announced on Wednesday, ending speculation about the 52-time group 1-winning trainer's future. The 37-year-old, the grandson of Melbourne Cup king Bart Cummings, was due to finish as Godolphin's head trainer on July 31 after the racing powerhouse's decision to move away from a private training model. Returning to the public ranks, Cummings was then set to face a battle with Ciaron Maher and the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott team to take over the 55-box stables of Leilani Lodge. Cummings' father, Anthony, was forced out of the stables in February after having his trainer's licence revoked because of his financial troubles. The Cummings family has occupied the stables since Bart established them in the early 1980s. The Australian Turf club has not announced a new tenant, but Maher, the nation's leading trainer, looks certain to get the nod after Cummings' withdrawal. Cummings said his decision to move to Hong Kong came without knowledge about who was getting Leilani Lodge. 'The ATC were very patient, and I respect the position they were in, and the decision hadn't been made at all. I never got that sense,' Cummings said. 'I wanted to know all the information that was on the table there, and I got to that position.' He said the potential to train out of Leilani Lodge again had been tempting but the need to provide clarity for staff and clients, given his chance in Hong Kong, was more important.
