Advertisement

Bart Cummings' children fighting over multimillion-dollar estate in bitter family feud

Bart Cummings’ three children are fighting over his multi-million dollar estate in a bitter family feud that won't be heard until next year.

A requested delay in proceedings is due to some horse races being held in Victoria.

In separate cases mentioned on Friday, the late horse trainer's son Anthony Cummings and daughter Sharon Robinson are disputing how the estate is to be divided up.

The lawyer representing Ms Robinson and another daughter Anne-Marie Casey, who is acting on behalf of their mother, Cumming's widow Valmae, were attempting to have the case heard as soon as next month.

Bart Cummings' three children are fighting over his multimillion-dollar estate in court on Friday. Photo: AAP
Bart Cummings' three children are fighting over his multimillion-dollar estate in court on Friday. Photo: AAP

But Anthony Cummings' lawyer Michael Jaloussis said he wouldn't be available because of "distractions in Victoria".

Those distractions centered on the Spring Carnival. Anthony follows in his father's galloping strides and has a number or horses racing over the coming week.

A request was made to the NSW Supreme Court to delay the hearing until the after the carnival featuring the Melbourne Cup was over.

Supreme Court Justice Francois Kunc said, "Not only is it the race that stops a nation but it stops the proceedings of the court."


Both cases have been filed against the will's executor, Aaron Randell.

Justice Kunc adjourned the matter until February 3 with the expectation the parties would enter private mediation talks before then.

The bitter family feud is playing out over the 60-hectare property, Princes Farm, that was left behind by the 12-time “cups king” who died last year, aged 87.

Anthony Cummings (right) and his son, James (left), will have runners at Flemington tomorrow.<p>Photo: AAP
Anthony Cummings (right) and his son, James (left), will have runners at Flemington tomorrow.

Photo: AAP


The estate is located on the banks of the Nepean River located near the Blue Mountains and is estimated to be worth more than $20 million, The Australian reported.

“It is sad that his name has bobbed up so close to the Melbourne Cup in an adverse manner," Jack Fisher, a long-time confidant of Bart said.

Anthony and his son, James, will have runners at Flemington on Saturday.

Bart was one of Australia's most successful racehorse trainers who won the Melbourne Cup a record 12 times, before his death in August 2015.

He won his first Melbourne Cup with Light Fingers in 1965 and his last with Viewed in 2008. Other cups were won in 1965, 1966, 1974, 1975 and 1991.

Bart trained 266 Group One winners and had 758 stakes victories among nearly 7,000 winners. He also won numerous other top Australian races: seven Caulfield Cups, five Cox Plates and four Golden Slippers.