James Cummings has been confirmed as the new head trainer of the Godolphin Australia operation and will officially take the reins on July 8th.
Cummings has enjoyed many accolades throughout his training career since he entered a partnership with his legendary grandfather Bart and claimed his biggest win when Prized Icon stormed home to post a comfortable three-length triumph in last year’s Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m).
Cummings is thrilled to have been confirmed as Godolphin’s new head trainer and is confident of building off the strong foundation set by John O’Shea throughout the last three years.
“It is truly an honour 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,” Cummings commented in a statement released by Godolphin.
“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 Jnr and Dato Tan Chin Nam.”
Managing Director for Godolphin in Australia, Henry Plumptre echoed Cummings’ sentiments and said that the global operation is delighted to have secured the services of the exciting young trainer.
“James is a great fit for Godolphin and his appointment is an exciting new chapter in the Godolphin story in Australia,” Plumptre said.
“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.”
Godolphin Australia is set to be represented in Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) by Impending.