Godolphin Australia will transition to a public training model for the upcoming racing season, ending an era of private training under James Cummings, who has led the team for eight years. Starting August 1, Cummings will move to a public trainer role but will continue training some horses for Godolphin.
The decision to diversify training across various trainers aligns with industry standards, according to Godolphin Australia Managing Director Andy Makiv.
“The private training model that we first adopted after the purchase of Woodlands in 2007 has proven to be very successful,” Makiv said. “Moving away from a private training model gives us greater business agility. We will continue to have the same number of horses in training – it’s fundamental to what we do.”
Cummings’ contract ends on July 31, and he plans to expand his own business.
“James is a fantastic trainer and has been incredibly successful,” Makiv said.
Cummings expressed his pride in his achievements with Godolphin and excitement for his next step.
“The time is right for me to take the next step in my career and launch my own venture as a public trainer,” Cummings said.
Makiv confirmed Cummings’ ongoing role in guiding key campaigns for the operation.
