James Cummings / Godolphin Australia

Godolphin Australia, trained by James Cummings, represents the Australian arm of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global racing and breeding empire — and the resources at their disposal are genuinely unmatched. Running in those famous royal blue silks with access to some of the finest bloodstock on the planet, the operation is based at Osborne Park in the Hawkesbury region of New South Wales, with satellite operations in Melbourne. It’s one of the most powerful forces in Australian racing and a perennial contender for every major prize on the calendar.

Godolphin Legacy

The Cummings name is synonymous with Australian racing royalty — and here’s the family tree that explains why. James Cummings is the grandson of the legendary Bart Cummings, who trained a record 12 Melbourne Cup winners and earned the title “Cups King.” James took over as Godolphin’s Australian trainer in 2016, carrying forward a family legacy that spans generations. Under his stewardship, Godolphin has continued to be a dominant force, winning Group 1 races with assembly-line regularity and maintaining a standard of excellence that befits the global brand.

James Cummings has trained winners of virtually every major race in Australia — the Golden Slipper with Bivouac, multiple Group 1 features with Anamoe, flagship victories with horses like Cascadian and Veight. The stable’s strength lies in its access to elite breeding stock from Darley’s global stallion roster, combined with Cummings’ own ability to identify and develop the best of each crop. With over 80 Group 1 victories and counting, the operation continues to honour the Cummings dynasty in the most fitting way possible.

Trainer Profile

Global Reach

As part of the Godolphin global network, the Australian operation benefits from unparalleled resources. Horses can be shuttled between hemispheres, accessing the best races in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The Darley breeding operation at Kelvinside and Northwood Park in the Hunter Valley ensures a constant pipeline of well-bred juveniles, many of whom are retained to race in the royal blue colours. This vertically integrated model — from breeding to racing — gives Godolphin Australia a structural advantage that few private operations can come close to matching.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com