Bart Cummings passed away on the weekend and his staggering record list will never be topped by another Australian trainer. 

The beauty of longevity assists most sportsmen and women when accumulating records and time was certainly on Cummings’ side.

However, a sportsperson who competes at their prime for so long becomes a legend.

Cummings’ first Melbourne Cup win was 1965 with Light Fingers and his 12th was with Viewed in 2008.

As Phil Blake, former Track Watch columnist, pointed out “it’s an enormous length of time”.

The Melbourne Cup is now marketed to trainers across the globe and it’s highly unlikely another Aussie will have a career as long as the ‘Cups King’.

He won his first Melbourne Cup weeks away from his 38th birthday and his final in his early 80s.

What other sport can a person have a career as long as that? 

Unleash the plane

JARRYD Hayne, it’s time for you to complete your transformation from rugby league to gridiron.

It’s time for you to score a touchdown and let the wings loose.

In light of him trade marking his name, it’s only right he shows the world his trademark move, apart from the step, swerve and fend.

If he doesn’t make a roster, I’m willing to eat my hat. 

San Francisco has put enough time and effort into him that if they cut him, he’ll be scooped up by another side in free agency. 

Apart from his surprising performances during the pre-season, Hayne’s also given the NFL its best avenue to market to Australians.

The best part of his rise was the shock heard in the tone of a commentator’s voice when ‘he switched the ball to his other hand’.

That’s a regular skill seen in the mod leagues on the South Coast, in fact it’s usually the smartest thing to do if a player anticipates contact from the side. 

Gridiron players place utmost importance on ball security and maybe Hayne’s style is seen as risky, except if it’s been part of his game for so long, it’s not going to change. 

He may revolutionise how the ball is carried. 

NFL analysts are saying switching hands is a lost-art. 

Scouts and coaching staff on other teams will pick at this. 

If they can figure out how to make him think twice about fending, then his big-play ability will be hampered and he might find himself back on Aussie shores quicker than he’d like.

However, I’m backing him to make the right adjustments. He’s a professional and is one in a 1000 when it comes to realising his dreams.