‘It’s not true’: Winx owner Debbie Kepitis shoots down Crown Lodge rumours amid Godolphin restructure

In the wake of trainer James Cummings’ flagged departure to Hong Kong, Godolphin has confirmed “interested parties” are inquiring about its Sydney facilities … but Winx’s part-owner isn’t one of them.

Winx's part-owner Debbie Kepitis (top left) has denied an interest in Godolphin's Crown Lodge, which trainer James Cummings will soon depart ahead of a switch to Hong Kong racing in 2026-27. Pictures: File

Godolphin Australia supremo Andy Makiv has revealed there are “interested parties” wanting to secure some of their training and stabling facilities as the racing and breeding giant restructures its business in the wake of trainer James Cummings’ departure to Hong Kong.

There has been ongoing speculation about whether Godolphin would retain and continue to operate all three of their state-of-the-art stable complexes, Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm, Osborne Park near Agnes Banks and Carbine Lodge at Flemington.

Racing’s rumour mill was in overdrive on Wednesday and there was even a suggestion leading Sydney racing identity Debbie Kepitis of Winx fame wanted to buy Crown Lodge, which were built by her father Bob Ingham and his brother Jack in 1988 before they sold the stables to Godolphin in 2007.

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“I’ve had a few phone calls about this but I can tell you it’s not true,’’ Mrs Kepitis told News Corp. “This is not something we are going to do.’’

But Makiv confirmed there has been interest from “various parties” looking to acquire the Godolphin training facilities.

“There has been plenty of interest in those (three) properties,’’ Makiv said.

“We will work out in time how to deal with them. They are great assets and there is interest from those parties looking to purchase or lease them. These are decisions we are still working through.’’

The Crown Lodge stables and the Agnes Banks training facility were among the best of their kind and it is hoped they will not be lost to Sydney racing.

CUMMINGS' SHOCK HONG KONG SWITCH

Trainer @JamesCummings88 will withdraw his application for the famous Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick after accepting an offer to train at @HKJC_Racing. Story: @RayThomas_1 👇 https://t.co/lFsrYTQrmW

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 10, 2025

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Cummings’ announcement on Wednesday that he wouldn’t continue to train this year after his current tenure with Godolphin expires on July 31 poses challenges for Makiv and his management team as they prepare to spread their racehorses between a number of stables.

But Makiv said Godolphin has already begun the process of recruiting trainers for next season.

“At the end of the day we are moving away from the employed in-house trainer,’’ Makiv said.

“We were happy to support James going forward, he was going to get a number of the horses.

“But there is also going to be a number of other trainers that would be training a lot of the horses as well. In terms of our operation, it (Cummings leaving) won’t impact on us too dramatically.’’

Cummings was going to prepare Godolphin’s Group 1 stars Tom Kitten and Zardozi and boom rising three-year-old filly Tempted for their spring carnival campaigns but Makiv said it was still to be determined who would be training that talented trio in the new season.

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“We are working through who our trainers will be and how it will look in the new season,’’ Makiv said.

“We have little bit of time and there is plenty of well-credentialed trainers in Sydney and Melbourne to fill the void.’’

Makiv said Godolphin enjoyed a very successful period with Cummings as trainer they could add to their Group 1 record with Golden Mile (Stradbroke Handicap) and Zebra Finch (JJ Atkins) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

“We are delighted for James, Monica and their family, this is a great opportunity for him,’’ Makiv said.

“Clearly, it (Hong Kong) is a wonderful jurisdiction to be involved in and for James, it is a feather in his cap. We congratulate him.’’