Kerrin McEvoy determined to farewell James Cummings with Group 1 win in JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm

Top jockey Kerrin McEvoy has extra motivation to win the Group 1 JJ Atkins for trainer James Cummings on Saturday.

Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy will have extra motivation to win the Group 1 JJ Atkins on Saturday as he aims to give James Cummings a winning farewell before the top Sydney trainer takes a well-deserved sabbatical.

Cummings will finish up with Godolphin when his contract ends on July 31 before taking a break and then moving to Hong Kong for the start of the 2026-27 racing season.

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McEvoy has ridden four Group 1 winners for Cummings, the grandson of legendary trainer Bart, and will add another if he takes out the $1m JJ Atkins (1600m) for juveniles on colt Zebra Finch at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

“It’d be great to win another major for James before he finishes his term as head trainer (for Godolphin),” McEvoy said.

“He’s done a remarkable job in the time that he’s been there so it’d be great to get him out on a good note.

“It was a surprising call, I certainly didn’t expect it. He’ll be missed in the (Australian) training ranks for sure.”

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McEvoy won The Galaxy for Cummings on mare Zapateo in March last year on a day when he was rushed to hospital with back and neck injuries following a nasty fall in the last race.

His other three majors for the now 37-year-old came in 2019 – the George Main Stakes and Ranvet Stakes (both on Avilius) and the Stradbroke Handicap on Trekking.

Kerrin McEvoy riding Zebra Finch to victory at Rosehill last month, being JJ Atkins rivals Zoutanium (left) and Hidden Achievement (obscured). Picture: Getty Images

The three-time Melbourne Cup winner said his favourite of those four major victories was the 2019 Stradbroke.

“He (Trekking) was a horse that James was able to win some really good races with and got better as he got older,” McEvoy said.

“I’m sure he was a horse that James really enjoyed training and that was probably the most satisfying win with him.

“He showed good trust in me because I’d ridden the horse a number of times and myself and the horse were able to form a good association.

“We put that to good use in the Stradbroke. He was able to get a really good run in transit and travelled like the winner the whole race so that was an enjoyable day.”

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Zebra Finch is paying $15 with bookmakers to win the JJ Atkins, well behind the Chris Waller-trained Hidden Achievement ($6), who was runner-up to Zebra Finch in a 2YO Handicap (1300m) just two weeks ago at Rosehill Gardens.

Queensland gallopers Cool Archie ($3.60) and Grafterburners ($8) are well in the market.

“He beat Hidden Achievement fair and square the other day and showed improvement with the blinkers on,” McEvoy said.

“I can see him making his presence felt, that’s for sure.

“He’s the sort of colt who only does enough so I’m hopeful that in a better field he’s going to bring more to the table.

“We’ll find out this Saturday in a top-level race for two-year-olds over a mile.”