Latest news with #BartCummings
News.com.au
13-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kerrin McEvoy determined to farewell James Cummings with Group 1 win in JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm
Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy will have extra motivation to win the Group 1 JJ Atkins on Saturday as he aims to give James Cummings a winning farewell before the top Sydney trainer takes a well-deserved sabbatical. Cummings will finish up with Godolphin when his contract ends on July 31 before taking a break and then moving to Hong Kong for the start of the 2026-27 racing season. McEvoy has ridden four Group 1 winners for Cummings, the grandson of legendary trainer Bart, and will add another if he takes out the $1m JJ Atkins (1600m) for juveniles on colt Zebra Finch at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'It'd be great to win another major for James before he finishes his term as head trainer (for Godolphin),' McEvoy said. 'He's done a remarkable job in the time that he's been there so it'd be great to get him out on a good note. 'It was a surprising call, I certainly didn't expect it. He'll be missed in the (Australian) training ranks for sure.' McEvoy won The Galaxy for Cummings on mare Zapateo in March last year on a day when he was rushed to hospital with back and neck injuries following a nasty fall in the last race. His other three majors for the now 37-year-old came in 2019 – the George Main Stakes and Ranvet Stakes (both on Avilius) and the Stradbroke Handicap on Trekking. The three-time Melbourne Cup winner said his favourite of those four major victories was the 2019 Stradbroke. 'He (Trekking) was a horse that James was able to win some really good races with and got better as he got older,' McEvoy said. 'I'm sure he was a horse that James really enjoyed training and that was probably the most satisfying win with him. 'He showed good trust in me because I'd ridden the horse a number of times and myself and the horse were able to form a good association. 'We put that to good use in the Stradbroke. He was able to get a really good run in transit and travelled like the winner the whole race so that was an enjoyable day.' Zebra Finch is paying $15 with bookmakers to win the JJ Atkins, well behind the Chris Waller-trained Hidden Achievement ($6), who was runner-up to Zebra Finch in a 2YO Handicap (1300m) just two weeks ago at Rosehill Gardens. Queensland gallopers Cool Archie ($3.60) and Grafterburners ($8) are well in the market. 'He beat Hidden Achievement fair and square the other day and showed improvement with the blinkers on,' McEvoy said. 'I can see him making his presence felt, that's for sure. 'He's the sort of colt who only does enough so I'm hopeful that in a better field he's going to bring more to the table. 'We'll find out this Saturday in a top-level race for two-year-olds over a mile.'
The Age
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Cummings to train in Honk Kong as Maher firms for Randwick stables
James Cummings, the grandson of late Melbourne Cup king Bart Cummings, is set to take the next major step in his training career in Hong Kong. The 37-year-old, already a 52-time group 1 winner, was on Wednesday announced by the Hong Kong Jockey Club today as a new trainer for the 2026-27 season, which starts in September next year. Cummings will finish his more than eight-year his tenure as Godolphin Australia's head trainer on July 31 after the racing giant's announcement in late April that it would be moving to a public training model. He was set to build his own team, with support from the likes of Godolphin and Dynamic Syndications, but that plan now looks in doubt given his decision to accept the HKJC invitation.
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
James Cummings accepts offer to train in Hong Kong from the 2026-27 season
James Cummings will withdraw 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 and will later this morning front a press conference in which the Hong Kong Jockey Club will confirm the trainer will 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. It is understood he may take a 'sabbatical'' from training before he moves to Hong Kong next year. It is unclear whether Cummings will continue training Godolphin's Group 1 stars Tom Kitten and Zardozi and boom rising three-year-old filly Tempted for their spring carnival campaigns later this year. Cummings has been reconsidering his future since Godolphin Australia made a bombshell announcement recently it is 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 board of directors are 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 is clear favourite to be given the keys to the Randwick stables which have been vacant since James's father, Anthony Cummings' licence to train was revoked earlier this year. 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. "IT'S ANAMOE'S GEORGE RYDER!" The champion did it tough today to win his 9th Group 1! @mcacajamez @JamesCummings88 @godolphin — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 18, 2023 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 Rose s 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 Cup s (Cascadian 2023, 2024), three Newmarket Handicap s (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).
Daily Telegraph
30-05-2025
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Kembla preview: Claire Lever's patience pays off with Yes Siree
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. As legendary trainer Bart Cummings once said, 'Patience is the cheapest thing on racing and the least used.' Hawkesbury trainer Claire Lever is one person who follows that ideology with her horses and her latest subject is the three-year-old Yes Siree. From his early days the stable, the gelding showed Lever he was blessed with nice ability and even after he won a Hawkesbury barrier trial last November, she put him away knowing he wasn't ready to take the next step. 'He showed nice ability from the time he came into the stable but he was really slow to mature,' said Claire Lever. 'He kept growing and took a long time to come together to where you want him to be. Trainer Claire Lever with her jockey/husband, Chad. Picture: Bradley Photos The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He grew more than we expected and took time to mature. 'I know he trialled well last time around but we just wanted to see him develop a bit more so we tipped him out. 'It wasn't until this preparation that he got to where we could do a bit more with him.' Returning for a late autumn and winter campaign, Yes Siree rewarded Lever and his owners with a debut win at Wyong on May 1. 'He trialled well then went to the races and won his first start,' Lever said. 'It probably wasn't an overly strong form race but it was over an unsuitably short distance for him and he did a few things wrong so he's progressing. 'It nice to have a horse in the stable that will keep improving that has been looked after.' That Wyong win came on a Heavy 10 but it was no surprise he handles the conditions so well being a son of Everest winner and Randwick 1200m track record holder Yes Yes Yes from an O'Reilly mare. Yes Siree is looking to make it two from two when he steps out on the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla on another heavy track with Grant Buckley to ride. 'It's a heavy track again but the Yes Yes Yes' have won all well on heavy tracks,' she said. 'The fact he ticked that box off, you can go to the races with that little bit more confidence that the track is not going to worry him too much. 'Down the track, I think 1400m will be is best distance but stepping up to 1200 metres this weekend will be good for him.' Four-year-old gelding Casanova has been a model of consistency in his two campaigns for Lever with a win and two placings in the first and he has a win and two placings so far this time in. He is looking to improve on that when he lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Lever husband, Chad, to ride. The gelding scored a tough win on his home track in March before a rare blip when well back behind Monkhena there a month later. A drop in grade saw him return his usually form with a third behind Exceedingly Hot at Queanbeyan on May 11. 'He is very honest, he puts himself up on speed or thereabouts and just tries really hard,' Lever said. 'His run at Hawkesbury was out of character but he pulled up okay. 'He bounced back with a better effort last start although it was at Queanbeyan in weaker grade. 'Back to provincial grade, on a nice track and down in weight, I think he will run well again. 'His form on wet tracks in good so I'm going to Kembla confident he will handle the conditions.'
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Kembla preview: Trainer Claire Lever's patient approach yields success as Yes Siree aims for second win
As legendary trainer Bart Cummings once said, 'Patience is the cheapest thing on racing and the least used.' Hawkesbury trainer Claire Lever is one person who follows that ideology with her horses and her latest subject is the three-year-old Yes Siree. From his early days the stable, the gelding showed Lever he was blessed with nice ability and even after he won a Hawkesbury barrier trial last November, she put him away knowing he wasn't ready to take the next step. 'He showed nice ability from the time he came into the stable but he was really slow to mature,' said Claire Lever. 'He kept growing and took a long time to come together to where you want him to be. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He grew more than we expected and took time to mature. 'I know he trialled well last time around but we just wanted to see him develop a bit more so we tipped him out. 'It wasn't until this preparation that he got to where we could do a bit more with him.' Returning for a late autumn and winter campaign, Yes Siree rewarded Lever and his owners with a debut win at Wyong on May 1. 'He trialled well then went to the races and won his first start,' Lever said. 'It probably wasn't an overly strong form race but it was over an unsuitably short distance for him and he did a few things wrong so he's progressing. 'It nice to have a horse in the stable that will keep improving that has been looked after.' That Wyong win came on a Heavy 10 but it was no surprise he handles the conditions so well being a son of Everest winner and Randwick 1200m track record holder Yes Yes Yes from an O'Reilly mare. Yes Siree is looking to make it two from two when he steps out on the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla on another heavy track with Grant Buckley to ride. 'It's a heavy track again but the Yes Yes Yes' have won all well on heavy tracks,' she said. 'The fact he ticked that box off, you can go to the races with that little bit more confidence that the track is not going to worry him too much. Casanova just finds enough to win at Hawkesbury for @leverracing! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025 'Down the track, I think 1400m will be is best distance but stepping up to 1200 metres this weekend will be good for him.' Four-year-old gelding Casanova has been a model of consistency in his two campaigns for Lever with a win and two placings in the first and he has a win and two placings so far this time in. He is looking to improve on that when he lines up in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Lever husband, Chad, to ride. The gelding scored a tough win on his home track in March before a rare blip when well back behind Monkhena there a month later. A drop in grade saw him return his usually form with a third behind Exceedingly Hot at Queanbeyan on May 11. 'He is very honest, he puts himself up on speed or thereabouts and just tries really hard,' Lever said. 'His run at Hawkesbury was out of character but he pulled up okay. 'He bounced back with a better effort last start although it was at Queanbeyan in weaker grade. 'Back to provincial grade, on a nice track and down in weight, I think he will run well again.
