12 January 2024

IN THE NEWS: Racing.com, Bivouac yearlings excite Cummings

“Certainly, up there with one of the best sprinters I’ve had, a very pleasant colt to have in the stable, just very competitive." - James Cummings

Three years ago, trainer James Cummings watched on as Bivouac put some of Australia’s best sprinters to the sword in the G1 Champions Sprint at Flemington.

Now, at the 2024 Magic Millions Sale, he is watching the likes of Ciaron Maher, Michael Freedman, Chris Waller, and a host of other top-line trainers and syndicators buy the stallion’s progeny in the auction ring.

“It’s fascinating to watch the progress,” Cummings said. “Now that he’s hitting the market, his first yearlings are for sale, it’s great to see a stock that we’ve done a bit of work with.

“The stables and the homes that these Bivouacs are going to find, they look like they’re going to get every chance … they’ve been sought after by some of the better judges.”

A three-time G1 and seven-time stakes winner, Cummings says the son of Exceed And Excel is easily one of the most talented gallopers he’s trained.

He also remembers Bivouac as a relatively friendly colt around the yard, but hugely competitive on the track, traits that buyers will desperately hope have been inherited by their yearlings.

“He’s right up there, his ratings were unbelievable,” he said.

“He didn’t just do it once, three big performances in G1s, but also big sprinting performances outside of those G1s as well.

“Certainly, up there with one of the best sprinters I’ve had, a very pleasant colt to have in the stable, just very competitive.

“He was able to win a WFA as a four-year-old, so he trained right on from the early two-year-old performances.”

As head of the Godolphin set-up, Cummings can watch Bivouac’s progeny be sold as an observer, knowing he has some of the picks of the crop at Darley’s Northwood Park.

Thus, seeing the Gold Coast Bivouac offerings sell for as much as $650,000, at a median of $150,000 (at the time of writing) has filled him with confidence for the yearlings who will join his stable in the coming months and years.

“It’s interesting with our stallions – we support our stallions so heavily, but we don’t sell our yearlings,” Cummings said.

“Those that are interested in buying yearlings by Bivouac don’t get the opportunity to tap into our broodmare band.

“To give you some perspective, compared to the yearlings on the ground this week, we’ve got a three-quarter relation to Cylinder, by Bivouac, she’s a cracking filly.

“We can look forward to training those horses, but nevertheless we’ve been quite interested in the Bivouacs that have been offered for sale … they’ve looked good and sold pretty well.”

Bivouac's first-crop yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale have sold to $675,000 and is being backed by the best trainers and syndicators, including:

  • Busuttin Racing
  • Ciaron Maher Racing
  • Dalziel Bloodstock
  • Danny O'Brien Racing
  • McEvoy Mitchell Racing
  • Michael Freedman Racing
  • Moody Racing
  • Prime Thoroughbreds
  • Te Akau Racing
  • Triple Crown Syndications
  • Waller Racing

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