James Cummings, the former Australian trainer recently recruited by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will permanently relocate to Hong Kong next month to fully immerse himself in the local racing scene ahead of his first season at Sha Tin in 2026/27. Prior to the move, he plans to attend the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar as part of an international learning mission, having already traveled to Ireland and Hong Kong to broaden his knowledge. Cummings is focused on understanding successful training methods and establishing connections to prepare for his new role, while also navigating options for pre-training horses before they are exported to Hong Kong.

At the Inglis Ready2Race Sale in Sydney, Cummings made a notable purchase of a $510,000 gelding by Lucky Vega, confident in the horse’s potential for Hong Kong racing. He is exploring various feeder stable arrangements, including collaborations with trainers in New South Wales, and remains open-minded about the best approach. Cummings will officially gain access to his Sha Tin stables in June and aims to build on his early groundwork to establish a successful operation in Hong Kong’s competitive racing environment.