CUMANI CALLS IT A DAY
LUCA CUMANI, the dual Derby winning trainer who was responsible for launching Frankie Dettori’s career, will hand in his licence at the end of the year.
Cumani, 69, who saddled Kahyasi (1988) and High-Rise (1998) to land the Epsom Classic, said: “I’ve decided this is a good moment to wind down, although I see it more of a change of direction.
“I discussed it with my son Matt but he’s training in Australia, which is really the land of opportunity.”
Cumani’s daughter, Francesca, a presenter with ITV racing and a former talented amateur rider, has chosen not to follow her father and become a trainer and take over his Newmarket stables.
The Italian-born Cumani was the obvious trainer for his fellow countryman Dettori to join when he left Sardinia to seek his fortune in the world.
Cumani gave racing’s greatest showman his first winner in Britain – Lizzy Hare at Goodwood in 1987 when he was
16.
Cumani, who learnt his craft with the late and great Sir Henry Cecil, was a respected master trainer of Classic winners.
He celebrated victories in the
1984 St Leger with Commanche Run, the Irish 1,000 Guineas with Ensconse (1989) and Gossamer (2002), and the 1993 Irish 2,000 Guineas with Barathea.
There was also high-profile glory on the world stage.
Barathea won the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.
Tolomeo became the first European-trained winner of the Arlington Million in 1983. The popular Falbrav missed out on a Breeders’ Cup victory but won five Group One events.
His most notable came in the Juddmonte International, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Coral-Eclipse. Cumani won Group or Grade One races in 11 different countries.
“I’ve been very lucky and privileged to have won big races all over the world and I no longer have the material to do so,” said Cumani.
“I’ve been to Churchill Downs and Melbourne, and now we’re having more runners at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford and it’s not quite the same.”
“At my age, I don’t think that situation is going to change.
Cumani will not be lost to racing as he will now devote his time to his Fittocks Stud near Newmarket.