James Cummings

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JAMES CUMMINGS -
RANDWICK TRAINER

SYDNEY'S #1 Trainer on
METRO STRIKE RATE
as at 24/6/16
with 15.76%
1 Winner per 6.34 Runners
184 Runners: 29 Winners & 79 Placed
including 8 Stakes Wins & 11 SP

In the 2015-16 Racing Season
at ALL VENUES JAMES has trained :
388 Runners: 51 Winners & 109 Placed

2015-16 is JAMES CUMMINGS
1st Season on his own.
Prior he was a co-trainer with his
legendary Grandfather BART CUMMINGS









ABOUT JAMES

James Cummings has followed in the family footsteps to become a racehorse trainer in his own right at Sydney’s premier racetrack, Royal Randwick. Operating out of Leilani Lodge – a stable made famous by his grand-father Bart Cummings – James and his team keep 60 horses in training throughout the year.

James is regarded as the finest young trainer in racing.

James learnt his craft firstly as a stable hand, then foreman, progressing to Co-Trainer
with his legendary Grandfather BART CUMMINGS.

Since the death of his grand-father Bart on 30 August 2015, James continues to churn out the winners.

Already we can see that James was an excellent student with 8 Stakes Winners and 11 Stakes placegetters in the first 10 months on his own including a Group 1 success over the 2016 Championships at Randwick.

As at 24 June 2016, James has added another 8 Stakes Winners to his resume including Gr1 win success with PRIZED ICON, Group 2 Success with GOOD STANDING, Group 3 success with SULTRY FEELING (2), YATTARNA, TEMPT ME NOT and Listed success with PRIZED ICON and RULING DYNASTY.




JAMES ALEXANDER CUMMINGS


James Alexander Cummings is the fourth generation of the Cummings dynasty to enter the racing industry. Born and raised in Sydney, at the age of 13 James began working as a stable hand for his father Anthony after school and on weekends and holidays. During this time, he learned the hard work and dedication that is required to be successful in our industry.

At 18, having left school and now studying at university, it became apparent to James that he had an insatiable desire to pursue a career in thoroughbred racing. James formally withdrew from university and since that day, he has pursued a full-time career in the racing industry.

To broaden his knowledge of horses and explore his options and passion, James relocated to Scone and was employed at Patinack Farm where he worked in the sale of stallion nominations and also received hands on experience working with the breeding stock in the stallion barns during the season.

In late 2006, James returned to his father Anthony’s stables in a managerial position and also worked as a junior foreman. During this time back with his father, the family’s stable Honour Roll included stakes success with Duporth and Casino Prince.

After almost 3 years with his father, in August 2009, the request came from his grandfather Bart for James to fill the vital position of Foreman at Leilani Lodge, Randwick.

At the age of 21, aside from Bart’s son Anthony, James was the youngest person ever to be given such an important position within Lelani Lodge.

James embraced the opportunity with a typical young man’s passion and an eagerness to learn from Australia’s master trainer. With Bart not only his grandfather but also his mentor, James absorbed all information Bart could offer.

During James’ 4 years as Bart’s foreman, the stable’s Honour Roll included the almighty So You Think, Dariana, Faint Perfume, Empress Rock, Rock Classic, Allez Wonder, Precedence, Roman Emperor and Norzita.

The 2012-13 racing season proved a highlight year for Bart Cummings and with James by his side as his foreman, the stable hit the lead in the Group 1 trainer’s list, recording their 265 Group 1 winners.

In July 2013, James was granted his Racing NSW metropolitan trainer’s license.

    

BART & JAMES CUMMINGS PARTNERSHIP
WAS AN INSTANT SUCCESS




After 4 years of being under the watchful eyes of his accomplished grandfather, Bart acknowledged James’ readiness to be a successful trainer.

However in true family style, Bart gave his grandson the ultimate acknowledgement, endorsement and praise when he asked James to go into a training partnership with him, therefore in effect, handing over the keys to one of the greatest racing stables in the world.

Bart by these actions, was telling the industry his grandson was the future. Succession plans were now in place.

On 1st August 2013 Racing NSW granted Bart and James Cummings a license to train in partnership.

This was the first partnership allowed onto Randwick Racecourse.

The partnership achieved almost immediate results with their first winner as co-trainers only 2 days after they began.

Then their first metropolitan winning double followed 7 days later which included winning the Rosebud, a Listed race and giving the partnership their first black type success.

James having done his initial learning under his father Anthony, has now been vested with the knowledge, skills and understanding of racehorses from his grandfather and mentor Bart.

James offers a young man’s enthusiasm, drive and adaptability, to the knowledge bank of the master trainer which is set to ensure future achievements shall continue to reach great heights.




ABOUT THE STABLES :
LEILANI LODGE


LEILANI LODGE - Randwick
8 High Street
Kensington NSW 2033


Leilani Lodge has been the home of champions for more than 40 years. Nestled in the heart of Sydney, the stables are situated on course at Randwick racetrack, enjoying access to world class racehorse training facilities. Stabling at Randwick also allows horses access to the best care of veterinarians, physiotherapists, dentists and farriers that service the facility. With high trees and shrubbery, it is easy to forget that the horses are training in a suburban area. Open spaces, peace and quiet and fresh air provide an ideal location for the horses to rest and recuperate and combined with 5 star dietary programs, the horses are guaranteed the most optimum chance to produce their absolute best.
Leilani Lodge has 60 stables and facilities include its own equine weighing machine and an on-site iced spa to cool off horses legs post gallop.

Named after James grandfather Bart’s, well renowned Group 1 mare in Leilani, the list of occupants of the stable is impressive with the likes of Ming Dynasty, Beau Zam, Sky Chase, Campaign King to Dane Ripper and Saintly, and most recently Empire’s Choice, Roman Emperor, So You Think, Rock Classic, Norzita, Lunar Rise, Empress Rock, Eurozone and Hallowed Crown. Now Prized Icon has joined the honour roll.

The stable consistently produces top class horses year after year.

Training at Royal Randwick racecourse means that the horses have access to three grass galloping tracks, an all-weather dirt track and sand track for daily trot and canter exercise.

The “bull-ring” provides the younger horses with a more secure area to further their education and for others it is a place to help freshen the mind from usual track work routines where they can jump logs and exercise in the open.

Barrier trials are held once a fortnight and jump outs will often take place every week during the Spring and Autumn.

Swimming is also an important part of the training – the horses make good use of the Randwick pool all year round and regular trips to the beach ensure that they enjoy a change of scenery as well as exercise and cooling benefits for horses between races.

Leilani Lodge ensures that each horse is given every opportunity to perform at the best of their ability.


VITAL STAFF MEMBERS

BELLA FOURER – Office Manager

Bella Fourer is the Accounts Manager for James Cummings.

She has been a loyal employee of the Cummings family since the beginning of 2005 and her knowledge of the business systems and inner working of a leading stable is second to none.

Originating from Moscow, Bella and her family have been based in Sydney since 1990.

Bella has developed an extensive knowledge of Accounting specifically within the racing industry, having previously worked for Ron Quinton.

With a willingness to add value to the business through the highest quality of service, Bella is an integral part of the team and the lady to go to with any administration questions.

NACIM DILMI – Stable Foreman

Nacim Dilmi moved to Australia from France early 2009 and rode track work under the watchful eye of Bart before he went travelling.
We were happy to see him return in 2010 where he continued riding and showed a keen interest in gaining experience and taking on more responsibilities.  As a result of his hard work, he was moved up to the position of Stable Foreman.

Nacim has gained much experience from riding, not only for Bart but also for Gai Waterhouse and Greg Eurell in Australia, Christiane Head in France, and Paul Cole in England, bringing with him an array of varied techniques and horsemanship that he has learnt from different part of the world.

Nacim also broadened his experience on pedigrees and the breeding industry when he completed a yearling preparation at the esteemed Kia Ora Stud.

Being a crucial member of our stable, Nacim has a wide range of understanding of the horses at the stable, along with their care and management.

He has become hands on in assisting James with the daily running of the stable; he uses his own experiences and skill gained in the industry to get the best out of the stable and the horses. Nacim is well prepared to handle the challenges of being a Leilani Lodge foreman.

He has saddled up a high number of winners for the stable and hopefully there are many more to come in the future.

STAKES WINNERS trained by JAMES CUMMINGS


 


16 Apr - Prized Icon - 1st Randwick (G1)



16 Apr - Yattarna - 1st Randwick (G3)



09 Apr - Prized Icon - 1st Randwick (LR)



02 Apr - Tempt Me Not - 1st Randwick (G3)



19 Mar - Sultry Feeling - 1st Rosehill (G3)




Good Standing Skyline Stakes Group 2 Randwick 27/02/16

Good Standing cruising down to collect his Golden ticket in the Randwick Group 2 Skyline Stakes with Hugh Bowman


Sultry Feeling Triscay Stakes Group 3 Randwick 13/02/16

Sultry Feeling & Kerrin McEvoy hold off Group I winner Peeping in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes at Randwick


Ruling Dynasty City Tatts Clun Cup LR 17/10/15


Ruling Dynasty taking out the Listed City Tattersall’s Club Cup with Tim Clark at Randwick



JAMES as registered & licensed CO-TRAINER
with his Grandfather - BART


James and his grandfather Bart Cummings enjoyed great success as a training partnership – here is a look back at some of the Stakes Winners they saddled up together:

The 2013-14 Racing Season was the first season that the Bart & James Cummings Racing Partnership has been in existence.

However it’s easy to see how well the partnership is performing.

They achieved Black Type Success with:








Shamalia
taking out the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes at Rosehill on 21/03/2015


 
Hallowed Crown beating home Shooting To Win and Sweynesse in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas on 7/3/2015



Hallowed Crown and Hugh Bowman take out the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill on 21/02/15




Hallowed Crown
& Hugh Bowman taking out the Group 1 Golden Rose
the race also marked James Cummings’ first Group 1 – 13/09/14
 


The training partnership prepared the Gooree - bred and owned Hallowed Crown to win the Group 3 Run to the Rose 30/8/14



Precedence
Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2014



Precedence takes out the Gr. 2 Drake International Cup (26th October 2013)
 


Eurozone wins the Gr 2 Stan Fox Stakes 28/9/2013


Eurozone stretches away to win the Listed Rosebud on 10/08/2013

    

OWNERSHIP Opportunities


Owning a racehorse can be very exciting but often venturing into racing for the first time can be very daunting.

Our stables are delighted to have a close working relationship with Dynamic Syndications.

We are happy to assist with any inquiries regarding your ownership opportunities with Dynamic through Leilani Lodge.


HISTORY – BART CUMMINGS

One of the greatest thoroughbred trainers in history !

(*Past Away 30 August 2015)


Bart Cummings or more formally known as “James Bartholomew Cummings - AM”, was born and raised in Glenelg, South Australia. As a young boy he worked as a stable hand in his father’s, James Martin Cummings racing stable. Working for his father taught him a lot about the routines that were conducive to training successful racehorses.

In 1950, Bart experienced his first thrill of being involved in a Melbourne Cup victory when he strapped Comic Court for his father.
 
In 1953, Bart was granted his trainer’s license at the age of 26 and in 1958 he won his first Group 1 race, the SAJC Derby with Stormy Passage.

From this point on, Bart’s training feats re-wrote Australian Racing History.

In 1965, Light Fingers won Bart his first Melbourne Cup. His affinity with this race was born and he continued his winning streak over the next 2 years with Galilee and Red Handed.  
 
He achieved his first Training Premiership in 1965-66. In this year, he won the 7 Group 1 Cups across Australia: Melbourne, Caulfield, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sandown and Queens Cup.

His success however, was not limited to these prestigious stayer’s championships. During the 1974-75 racing season, Bart trained 10 different racehorses to win 20 Group 1 races. The honour role for this year included the likes of Leilani, Think Big and Lord Dudley.
 
Bart trains his horses as individuals. This approach has been fruitful in providing an array of winning sprinters, middle distance runners and stayers. The stable has produced champions that have won 4 Golden Slippers, 32 Derbies, 5 Cox Plates, 24 Oaks and 7 Caulfield Cups.

No other trainer has succeeded in this kind of success so far.
 
Since 1972, Bart has provided owners with great pride in having their racehorses inducted to the Champion Racehorse of the Year Hall of Fame. His list of graduates includes Dayana, Leilani, Lord Dudley, Maybe Mahal, Hyperno, Beau Zam, Let’s Elope and Saintly.
 
In 1982, Bart was honoured with the Order of Australia for his contribution and service to the racing industry and his tireless promotion of this sport to the public.

In 1991, Bart was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

In 2001 Bart became an inaugural inductee into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
 
To date and counting, Bart has been publicly dubbed as the “Cups King.”

Bart has achieved 268 Group 1 victories, more than 758 black type stakes victories and he has won the ‘Race that Stops a Nation’ 12 times.


 



James, Anthony and Bart Cummings

BART CUMMINGS CAREER :


Bart with THINK BIG

Bart’s training career highlights includes the following statistical data :

Bart trained 9 Champion Racehorses of the Year. 

The Australian Racehorse of the Year awards only commenced in 1968/69 and we can safely assume that Bart would have many more awards considering the achievements of Light Fingers, Galilee and Storm Queen during the early 1960’s.

1972/73 – Dayana
VRC, SAJC, WATC, WATC Australian Derby’s, WATC Perth Cup

1973/74 – Taj Rossi

MVRC Cox Plate, VRC Derby, VRC George Adams

1974/75 – Leilani

AJC Oaks, VATC Toorak Hcp, Caulfield Cup, CF Orr, VRC Mackinnon, Australian Cup

1975/76 – Lord Dudley
VATC Blue Diamond, VRC Sires Produce, Australian Cup, MVRC Manikato
Stakes, William Reid Stakes

1977/78 – Maybe Mahal

VRC Craven Stakes, George Adams Hcp, Lightening Stakes, Newmarket
Hcp, BTC Doomben 10,000, AJC Doncaster

1980/81 – Hyperno
VRC Melbourne Cup, Australian Cup, VATC Caulfield Stakes, STC Rawson Stakes

1987/88 – Beau Zam
AJC Spring Champion, STC Rawson Stakes-twice, STC Tancred Stakes, AJC Derby

1991/92 – Let’s Elope
VATC Caulfield Cup, CF Orr Stakes VRC Mackinnon Stakes, Melbourne Cup, Australian Cup

1996/97 – Saintly
VRC Australian Cup, Melbourne Cup, MVRC Cox Plate, VATC CF Orr Stakes


BART’S PERSONAL FAVOURITES


SAINTLY

Saintly will always have a special place in Bart’s heart. Saintly was bred at Bart’s private farm – Princes Farm and is by quite an unknown stallion Sky Chase who previously won the Champagne Stakes for Bart. Saintly started his success in 1995 when he won the VRC Carbine Club Stakes (Listed). In 1996 he won a total of five Group races. Not only did he win the Cox Plate that year but he backed up 10 days later to give Bart his 11th win of the Melbourne Cup.

LET'S ELOPE


Champion Australian Racehorse of the 1991- 1929 season Let’s Elope had completed an enormous feat by winning both the 1991 VRC Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Winner of a total of eight Stakes races this big NZ bred mare began a seven-race winning streak in the Turnbull Stakes, then took the Mackinnon Stakes and both the Cups, and returned in the new year for the Orr Stakes, the St George Stakes, and the Australian Cup.

THINK BIG


In 1974 Think Big ran down Leilani who was favourite on the day, to beat her in the Melbourne Cup giving Bart his third quinella of this coveted race. With not having won a race for an entire year Think Big took on the Melbourne Cup again in 1975 and won it again over stablemate Holiday Wagon.

LEILANI

Leilani was a champion racemare winning six Group 1 races including;
1974 AJC Oaks 2400m,
1974 VATC Caulfield Cup 2400m,
1974 VATC Toorak Handicap 1600m,
1974 VRC L.K.s Mackinnon Stakes 2000m,
1975 CF Orr Stakes 1400m and the
1975 VRC Australian Cup 2000m.

Leilani won a total of 12 Stakes races in her career and was inducted into the Australian Hall Of Fame as the 1975 Australian Champion Racehorse of the year.

DAYANA

Dayana was a winner of seven Stakes races from 1972 – 1975 and was named horse of the year in the season of 1972 – 1973. He won a total of four Derbies in 1972 alone and then the following year went on to win the Perth Cup 3200m followed by the PARC Simsmetal Plate 2250m and the VRC Duke Of Norfolk Stakes 3200m in 1975.

GALILEE

Galilee was a diverse galloper winning a total of 12 stakes races ranging from 1600m – 3200m. He was of great service to Bart winning the 1966 Caulfield Cup, 1966 Melbourne Cup, 1997 Sydney Cup 1967 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, 1968 Memsie Stakes and the 1968 Turnbull Stakes but to name a few.




BART CUMMINGS
RACETRACK ACHIEVEMENTS


268 Group 1 Wins

 
Bart currently holds the record for the most number of Group 1 wins in a training season.
 

At the close of the 1974 -1975 racing season, Bart Cummings had trained the winners of 20 Group 1 races with ten different horses, such as Leilani, Cap d’Antibes, Think Big, Leica Show and Lord Dudley winning in five different states.  

The races won include the Australian, Brisbane, Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the Goodwood, Newmarket and Toorak Handicaps, WATC & QLD Derby’s, the VRC Oaks and the Flight and Mackinnon Stakes. 

The variety of races won reflect the extensive training skills of the trainer.



12 Melbourne Cups
1965,  1966,  1967,  1974,  1975,  1977,  1979,  1990,  1991,  1996,  1999, 2008

Bart Cummings Melbourne Cup Runners Summary:

87 Runners: 12 Winners and 10 Placegetters

5 quinella’s

14% strike rate win

11% strike rate place

25% strike rate win & place


7 Caulfield Cups
1966, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1991, 2009

5 Cox Plates
1973, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2010

13 Australian Cups
1968, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2008

11 Mackinnon Stakes
1959, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2007, 2010

32 Derbies

1958 – 2010
(6 VRC, 5 AJC, 10 SAJC, 8 WATC, 4 QTC, 1 TRC)

24 Oaks

1964 – 2009
(9 VRC, 7 AJC, 6 SAJC, 1 QTC, 1 WATC)

4 Golden Slippers
1966, 1973, 1976, 1979

5 Doncaster Handicaps

1974, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1998

8 Newmarket Handicaps
1972, 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1990, 1991

5 Caulfield Guineas
1966, 1974, 1996, 2005, 2006

5 Thousand Guineas
1963, 1989, 1991, 1996, 2001

16 Sires Produce Stakes

1966-1993
(AJC x 2, QTC x 1, SAJC x 8, VRC x 5)

7 Lightning Stakes
1967, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1991

6 Flight Stakes
1974, 1976, 1977, 1994, 1996,2012

4 Champion Stakes

1974, 1981, 1987, 1989

4 Stradbroke Handicaps

1988, 1989, 1993, 1997

16 St Ledgers
1965-2005
(SAJC x 8, AJC x 1, VRC x 7)

1 Crown Guineas
2010

1 Storm Queen Stakes
2010