DYNAMIC JAMES CUMMINGS is Back in Business as we UNITE Again
James Cummings has formalised one of racings worse kept secrets, when it was officially announced today that he will be returning to Public Training after tremendous success with Godolphin over the past 8 seasons.
Dynamic Syndications are excited to now release our information that the DYNAMIC DUO are back together again!
James Cummings and Our Team re-unite for the benefit of our many co-ownership teams.
We held a good working relationship previously firstly with James and Bart when they trained in partnership, and then with James in his own right before James headed across to lead the Godolphin Team.
Now we can confirm that our relationship has been revived and we will be sending several horses to his new venture that will be ready to walk through the gate on 1st August 2025, Day 1 of the upcoming racing season.
Keen followers and in the know owners of Dynamic Syndications would be aware we have deliberately held back some exciting yearlings from heading to market and now we can advise why?
We couldn’t offer these until we could officially announce that James Cummings will be their trainer.
Logistically the only thing remaining is for James to acquire stables to train from and he is working closely with racing officialdom who are assisting James with this endeavor. This will be formalised over the coming weeks.
JAMES CUMMINGS – Horse Trainer
A fourth-generation trainer, JAMES CUMMINGS is stepping into an exciting new chapter as he returns to life as a Public Trainer in his own right for the upcoming 2025/26 Racing Season, following a highly successful eight-year tenure as the Head Trainer at Godolphin Australia.
James was appointed to the prestigious role at Godolphin in May 2017, where he quickly stamped his authority with a winning debut runner and a Group 1 victory (Alizee – Flight Stakes) within three months. From there, the wins never stopped flowing.
But long before donning the royal blue silks, James’s career was forged at Leilani Lodge, under the watchful guidance of his legendary grandfather, Bart Cummings. The pair shared a formal training partnership across the 2013/14 and 2014/15 racing seasons, combining for 95 winners, including major race successes like the Randwick Guineas, Golden Rose, Hobartville Stakes, Moonee Valley Cup, Callander-Presnell, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Run to the Rose, Kindergarten, and many more.
After Bart’s passing, James took the reins solo in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, preparing 128 winners, including two Group 1 victories, with PRIZED ICON claiming the VRC Derby and becoming his first elite-level winner.
It was during this golden period in the 2014/15 season that Dynamic Syndications established a working relationship with James and Bart. Then Dynamic backed James in his solo venture, entrusting him with multiple racehorses. While his Godolphin opportunity meant our time together was shorter than mutually hoped, it was rich in success and built on mutual respect. Together we always said when he returned to being a Public Trainer we would be the first lined-up at the stable door with horses and we have embraced that with several horses earmarked to be in stables on the first day being 1st August 2025.
GODOLPHIN ERA (2017–2025)
As Head Trainer of Godolphin Australia, James Cummings steered the powerhouse stable through its most decorated period. His tenure included over 1,350 winners, 201 Stakes Wins, and 48 Group 1 victories, amassing more than $194 million in prizemoney.
His leadership was strategic, splitting his time between Osborne Park (NSW), Crown Lodge (juveniles, NSW) and Carbine Lodge (VIC) to ensure elite preparation for his thoroughbreds. His professionalism and attention to detail turned him into one of Australia’s most effective trainers.
Key Godolphin stars trained by James included:
• Anamoe – 9-time Group 1 winner & Horse of the Year
• Bivouac – Timeform Rating 128, multiple G1 sprinter
• Microphone – Champion 2YO, Golden Slipper quinella (2019)
• Kiamichi – Golden Slipper winner
• In Secret, Astern, Colette, Cascadian, Kementari, Hartnell – all elite G1 winners
• Broadsiding – 4× G1 winner, including 2024 Rosehill Guineas & Golden Rose
Cummings rewrote the record books in 2018/19, with:
• 62 black-type wins (national record)
• 8 Group 1s, 223 total winners
• $32.6 million in earnings (Godolphin record at the time)
In 2022, James trained winners of 11 of Australia’s richest races, topping the nation in million-dollar event wins—achieved from significantly fewer runners than rival stables.
KEY STATS & ACHIEVEMENTS @ GODOLPHIN:
• 8 Seasons as Head Trainer at Godolphin (2017–2025)
• 48 Group 1 wins, 68 Group 2s, 85 Listed
• $194 million prizemoney earned
• Highest-rated horse: Bivouac (Timeform 128)
• Most G1 wins: Anamoe (9 G1s)
• National record: 62 stakes wins (2018/19)
• Champion 2YO trainer: Microphone, Broadsiding
THE NEXT CHAPTER:
In April 2025, after eight seasons of elite-level success, James announced he would be relinquishing his Godolphin role and returning to the sport as a public trainer.
While Godolphin will continue to support James with a select number of horses next season, his focus now turns to “free enterprise” taking on private clients again and reviving his stable in his own image.
It’s a natural evolution for someone whose roots run deep in racing. James is not only Bart’s grandson—he is a Cummings by blood and by philosophy. He grew up working in stables under father Anthony, took on sales and breeding work at Patinack Farm, and was eventually entrusted by Bart to be foreman at Leilani Lodge at just 21 years old.
As Bart once said, “Be kind and be caring”—a motto James has taken to heart in managing both horses and people.
THE DYNAMIC CONNECTION:
The DYNAMIC DUO are back together!
Dynamic Syndications is thrilled to be able to renew our partnership with James Cummings.
Having worked together during his early solo seasons, we saw first-hand James’s talent, commitment and communication—qualities that align perfectly with Dynamic Syndications own ethos. James prepared several horses for our team in those seasons and gave our owners racetrack success.
We’re proud to welcome James back into the Dynamic fold as we look ahead to the 2025/26 season with great anticipation.
OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Whether you’re new to racing or a seasoned owner, there’s no better time to get involved.
James Cummings + Dynamic Syndications = a winning combination.
Contact us today to find out how you can join a team led by one of Australia’s most successful and respected horsemen.
BIO – JAMES ALEXANDER CUMMINGS:
James Alexander Cummings is the fourth generation of the Cummings dynasty to enter the racing industry. Born and raised in Sydney, at the age of 13 James began working as a stable hand for his father Anthony after school and on weekends and holidays. During this time, he learned the hard work and dedication that is required to be successful in our industry.
At 18, having left school and now studying at university, it became apparent to James that he had an insatiable desire to pursue a career in thoroughbred racing. James formally withdrew from university and since that day, he has pursued a full-time career in the racing industry.
To broaden his knowledge of horses and explore his options and passion, James relocated to Scone and was employed at Patinack Farm where he worked in the sale of stallion nominations and also received hands on experience working with the breeding stock in the stallion barns during the season.
In late 2006, James returned to his father Anthony’s stables in a managerial position and also worked as a junior foreman. During this time back with his father, the family’s stable Honour Roll included stakes success with Duporth and Casino Prince.
After almost 3 years with his father, in August 2009, the request came from his grandfather Bart for James to fill the vital position of Foreman at Leilani Lodge, Randwick.
At the age of 21, aside from Bart’s son Anthony, James was the youngest person ever to be given such an important position within Lelani Lodge.
James embraced the opportunity with a typical young man’s passion and an eagerness to learn from Australia’s master trainer. With Bart not only his grandfather but also his mentor, James absorbed all information Bart could offer.
During James’ 4 years as Bart’s foreman, the stable’s Honour Roll included the almighty So You Think, Dariana, Faint Perfume, Empress Rock, Rock Classic, Allez Wonder, Precedence, Roman Emperor and Norzita.
The 2012-13 racing season proved a highlight year for Bart Cummings and with James by his side as his foreman, the stable hit the lead in the Group 1 trainer’s list, recording their 265 Group 1 winners.
In July 2013, James was granted his Racing NSW metropolitan trainer’s license.
After 4 years of being under the watchful eyes of his accomplished grandfather, Bart acknowledged James’ readiness to be a successful trainer.
However, in true family style, Bart gave his grandson the ultimate acknowledgement, endorsement and praise when he asked James to go into a training partnership with him, therefore in effect, handing over the keys to one of the greatest racing stables in the world.
Bart by these actions, was telling the industry his grandson was the future. Succession plans were now in place.
On 1st August 2013 Racing NSW granted Bart and James Cummings a license to train in partnership.
This was the first partnership allowed onto Randwick Racecourse.
The partnership achieved almost immediate results with their first winner as co-trainers only 2 days after they began.
Then their first metropolitan winning double followed 7 days later which included winning the Rosebud, a Listed race and giving the partnership their first black type success.
For two-seasons the training partnership with his grandfather Bart Cummings bloomed over the 2013/14 & 2014/15 Racing Seasons where together they trained 95 winners.
James having done his initial learning under his father Anthony, gained the knowledge, skills and understanding of racehorses from his grandfather and mentor Bart.