The Cummings name is attached to some of Australia's most famous races, and the latest generation has ensured it will be so for many years to come.
Dynamic young trainer James Cummings has become the fourth generation to train the winner of the Gr1 Victoria Derby, when PRIZED ICON ran away from Kiwi Sacred Elixir at Flemington on Saturday.
Prized Icon - Winning VRC Victoria Derby Gr1- (Red & Black Jacket)
James Cummings' great-grandfather Jim won the Derby with Comic Court in 1948, his grandfather Bart won five Derbies, while his dad Anthony won with Fiveandahalfstar four years ago.
The 28-year-old Cummings remained emotionally in control as he vowed to ensure the Cummings name would be around for a long time.
James Cummings holds aloft his winning trainers trophy
"I get a lot of confidence from the fact that my great-grandfather started training horses in 1911; there's over 100 years of horse training excellence in the family," Cummings said.
"That knowledge gives us confidence, but there are times when it wanes and there were times like Moonee Valley last week."
James was referring to Prized Icon's fifth in the Derby lead-up Vase when he suffered an early bump and failed to fire.
"To win staying races like these horses just love to be in their own comfort zone, their own space, and today was just chalk and cheese from last week where this horse got none of that," he said.
"Although winless (this campaign) before today, he just continued to show such strength and the miles and miles of Cummings training have kicked in."
"We pay attention to how horses do need a little time to recover from a race like this and we certainly won't be in a rush with this horse.
"He's a valuable commodity, he's gonna be close to my heart for the rest of my life — he's my first Derby winner."
"Most of Australia knows the family name," Cummings said.
"I reflect on it but right now I'm proud of the horse and the job he's done.
"He's been a model of consistency throughout his career.
"The horse was just in his own comfort zone and happy in his own space and he was strong."
Prized Icon ($17) was 2-1/2 lengths too good for $2.70 favourite Sacred Elixir, whose trainer Tony Pike was left disappointed, believing he had hit the front too soon.
"He was just too good today," Pike said.
"I told James when (Prized Icon) won the Champagne Stakes in the autumn he was a Derby horse, and it doesn't always work out but it did today."
Pike said Sacred Elixir would bounce back for a Sydney autumn campaign.
The winning trainer was surrounded by family, including his father, Anthony, who trained the 2012 Victoria Derby winner, Fiveandahalfstar.
James Cummings trained in partnership with his grandfather Bart until the master trainer's death in 2015.
Prized Icon, which is raced by Eduardo Cojuangco, the grandfather of James' wife, Monica.
"I'm very proud," he said.
"It's a great thing. Four generations and still going. It's only early days yet.
"James has made a great start to his training career and continues on the family name."
Just after the race Team Dynamic were on level 4 “The View” of the Main Grandstand. This is the home of “BART’S BAR” a favoured watering hole at the track.
Still discussing the great win by James the presentation was being beamed live on course with the TV Set under Bart’s Bar covering James Cummings acceptance speech. We grabbed a picture – as they say a picture say’s a thousand words.
