As the season draws to a close, the latest chapter in Australian racing’s most iconic dynasty has been written.
After the death of his legendary grandfather Bart in August, fourth generation trainer James Cummings took over the famous Randwick stables in his own right.
The fittingly named Ruling Dynasty will carry the hopes of Leilani Lodge in Sydney’s final stakes race of the season at Rosehill on Saturday.
Reflecting on his first season as sole trainer, Cummings says he’s pleased with the 62 winners the stable has produced.
“It’s pretty hard to do that,” Cummings said.
“Now that we’ve got that confidence from this season we can take that into the next.
“We’ve got even more authority to bring in new clients but we also want to mix it with the best when the pressure is on in the big races.”
Ruling Dynasty is one of the stable’s Group One spring hopefuls and will resume in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) on Saturday.
“There’s no doubt he’s going to need further than that but two preparations ago he was competitive first-up over a mile,” Cummings said.
Cummings is looking for a strong finish from Ruling Dynasty, who will be stepped up to 1800m in the Premier’s Cup Prelude at Rosehill in two weeks as he works towards the Group One Metropolitan Handicap over 2400m in October.
“We want to see him return before we nominate for the strong races in Melbourne, but he’s got plenty of time to be ready for a Metropolitan in Sydney in October,” Cummings said.
“He’s got to lift up to that level for us, but he’s a mile-and-a-half winner at Randwick and he ran fifth behind Mongolian Khan.”
The highlight of Cummings’ season was his first Group One win in his own right with Prized Icon in the Champagne Stakes.
Cummings is planning to run the colt first-up in the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes at Randwick on August 13 as he builds towards possible tilts at the Group One Caulfield Guineas or Spring Champion Stakes.
The stable’s other talented rising three-year-old colt Good Standing will run first up in the Run To The Rose before tackling the Group One Golden Rose.
