โTo 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.
โI also want to take this opportunity to thank Godolphin for entrusting me with the responsibility and leadership of their team over the past eight years.โ
James Cummings has carved out a formidable record after getting his start training with grandfather Bart.Credit: Eddie Jim
The move also means Cummings has withdrawn from the battle to take over Leilani Lodge at Royal Randwick, where he began his training career with his famous grandfather, who was based there during a career that yielded 12 Melbourne Cups.
The 55-box stable complex was vacated after Jamesโ father Anthony had his trainerโs licence revoked by Racing NSW in February because of his financial difficulties.
Anthony and his son Edward fought briefly to keep the stables before the Australian Turf Club called for expressions of interest to trainers in the complex.
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Top trainer Ciaron Maher, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott team, and James Cummings were the applicants for the stables. The ATC board discussed the applications at a board meeting last month and decision is expected next month.
Cummingsโ decision means Maher will firm again as favourite to take over the stables and expand his reach further into Sydney racing.
Cummings had spoken this season about his interest in training in Hong Kong, if an invitation came, amid talk of strategic changes at Godolphin, making Wednesdayโs news not a complete shock.
However, it comes after news just last week that he would have use of Godolphinโs Carbine Lodge at Flemington past this season to kick-start his move into the public training arena.
Cummings will join the likes of fellow Australians David Hayes, John Size and Mark Newnham as trainers in the famed and lucrative Hong Kong racing district.
Trainers under the HKJC banner are restricted to 70 horses, making it a steep departure for Cummings, who has 227 horses registered under his name.
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