Through her on-air stints for Channel Seven, horse-racing expert Francesca Cumani has become one of the most recognisable faces of the spring carnival and has recently returned to Melbourne to join the presenting team for all the racing action.
The difference this year is that she has an Australian husband, polo player Rob Archibald, whom she married in Italy in September.
“I know Melbourne pretty well now and Australia is certainly starting to feel more like home to me,” says Cumani, who grew up in Newmarket, the headquarters of British racing, and now travels the world covering the sport for CNN.
With an increasing army of international raiders descending on Melbourne for the Cup, the one thing that’s guaranteed is that Cumani, a former amateur jockey, will be able to give viewers key insights into the European challengers, which usually include at least one or two horses from the stable of her father, Luca.
She says: “The notable difference this year is that there are more horses coming from Europe and beyond, not just for the Cup but for other valuable races in the build-up, such as the Caulfield Cup or the Mackinnon Stakes.
“Even if horses aren’t guaranteed to get into the Cup, their owners are rolling the dice and targeting other prestigious races during the carnival.”
Her travels have taken her to such glamorous locations as St Moritz, where horses race on a frozen lake, but for Cumani the spring carnival is an annual highlight.
“There’s something special about it, particularly the Melbourne Cup itself,” she says. “I think the reason is that there’s so much public interest wherever you go – and in the papers and on the radio.
“For a sport that can struggle for appeal outside its own sphere, in Melbourne at this time of year racing really does capture the imagination of the public and seems to have a much broader appeal. It’s exciting because horses are coming from all over the world.
“Some may denigrate the Cup itself as ‘only a handicap’ but the fact it is a handicap means there’s all the intrigue in the build-up as to who will get in and then, in theory, any one of the 24 horses could win if the handicapper has done his job properly.”
Cumani has been running her eye over the international horses stabled at the quarantine centre at Werribee and has been impressed with the way veteran traveller Red Cadeaux, who has been second in the Melbourne Cup twice, has acclimatised.
“Red Cadeaux seems to be rejuvenated by his trips around the world – he’s settled well and looks great,” she says.
Of particular personal interest through her role as European representative for OTI Racing is (Lord) Van Percy, who is making his first visit to Australia in company with stablemate Side Glance, winner of last year’s Mackinnon Stakes on VRC Derby Day at Flemington.
“I’m obviously a bit biased given my connection but he’s a gutsy little horse with a real turn of foot,” she says of the Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old. “I feel [Lord] Van Percy will take to the firm tracks and we know he copes well with big fields. He’s a real battler.”
Francesca Cumani spoke to Emma Berry of Inside Racing (Australia)
Follow Francesca on Twitter @francescacumani
Follow Emma on Twitter @collingsberry
