In the world of horse racing, Bart Cummings is the master. His astonishing tally of twelve Melbourne Cups wins arguably makes him the greatest trainer in Australia’s history and, by statistical measures, as freakish as Bradman. His laconic wit and indifference to the trappings of wealth and fame have seen him recognised as a national treasure in his own lifetime. He is one of Australia’s greatest characters. As Les Carlyon writes, he simply isn’t like anyone else. Cummings doesn’t come into it: to everyone he’s just Bart.
Carlyon is Australia’s most revered observer of racing. For close to forty years he has known Bart and chronicled his remarkable career. Now, in The Master, Carlyon gives us a portrait of the man, his horses and his world away from the glamour of the big race days. It shows us a Bart few have seen before. Intimate, personal, informed and captivating - The Master is loaded with stories and characters that bring racing to life and reveal much of the character and modus operandi of Bart.