James Cummings admits to having “mixed emotions” as he prepares to close the door on a significant chapter of his decorated career.
In the helm as Godolphin’s Australian head trainer since 2017, Cummings will fulfil his final obligations in that role over the next eight days with Sheikh Mohammed’s operation moving to a public training model from the start of the new season on August 1.
A fourth generation trainer, Cummings has been at Godolphin’s Melbourne base this week conducting “a bit of a farewell tour with the team” before he takes a year off, ahead of joining the Hong Kong training ranks for the 2026-27 racing term.
“There are mixed emotions,” Cummings told SEN radio.
“While everyone has got to move on, there is no doubt there is great passion associated with this team. There is passion for the horses and when those horses start getting on trucks and moving to different stables, it is tinged with some sadness.
“But they go in good order and we hope they do extraordinarily well and I’m sure they will do well.”
Cummings still has business to take care of before the curtain closes and will oversee his final group of Saturday runners for Godolphin this weekend.
The team has a trio contesting the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield led by in-form mare Kin, who claimed a Listed win in Queensland two starts ago and closed strongly for fifth at weight-for-age level in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) last time out.
She has drawn the outside gate in the field of nine and Cummings expects that to suit her.
“She’s got the wide draw Saturday and she could really use that to her advantage at Caulfield,” he said.
“She enjoys being held up but then getting to the outside and with that good dash that she does possess, I’d like to think she’s got some chance.
“It was excellent to see her get another stakes win this campaign for her CV before she retires, but her second attempt at weight-for-age, it would be even sweeter for her.”
Kin will be joined in the Bletchingly Stakes by stablemates Kallos and Inhibitions, while in Sydney Cummings will have two runners including three-year-old Tarpaulin in the ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1100m).
The latter raced fiercely when tiring late first-up at Rosehill and has since been back to the barrier trials in the hope of ironing out his freshness.
“We tried to mix it up with Tarpaulin and take a little bit of that fire out of him,” Cummings said.
“He can probably get away with still going a little strong within himself with the very light weight here and still fire.”
Cummings also predicted an outstanding spring for Tom Kitten, who made his first public appearance since his Queen Elizabeth Stakes placing in a Randwick barrier trial this week.
“He’s headed down to Victoria and I’d like to think he’s in for a really good prep,” Cummings said.
“It could easily be his best prep, building on what he did last time winning that All-Star Mile and third in a very good Queen Elizabeth.”
Godolphin is spreading its racing stock among a number of trainers and has confirmed the destinations for its best horses, including Tom Kitten who will join the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable, while top filly Tempting and staying mare Zardozi head to Ciaron Maher.
