Former Classic-winning trainer Luca Cumani has recently been honoured with the Order of the Star of Italy, an award akin to a knighthood presented to Italians deemed to have promoted the nation abroad.
Cumani has resided in England since 1973, having started as an assistant to Henry Cecil before embarking on his own training career in Newmarket three years later. Following his retirement from the training ranks at the end of 2018, he has focused his attention on Fittocks Stud, which he runs with his wife Sara.
The Cumanis took a brief break from the foaling season to attend a ceremony at the Italian embassy in London, where he was presented with his award last Tuesday.
“It was completely unexpected. I got a letter from the Italian ambassador, I had no idea at all,” said Cumani, who won the Derby in 1988 with Kahyasi (Ire) and repeated that feat a decade later with High-Rise (Ire).
“With Italy not being such a great racing country nowadays I didn't think that my modest achievements in England would resonate in Italy at all. But it is a great honour to receive it, one has to be very proud of it, and I am.”
Widely revered as one of the most astute trainers of a generation, Cumani's collection of Classics extends to the St Leger with Commanche Run (GB), while he also landed the Irish 2000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas with Barathea (Ire) and Gossamer (GB) respectively, and Kahyasi backed up his Epsom success with victory in the Irish Derby. Cumani, whose father Sergio was champion trainer in Italy, also secured wins in his home country in the Derby Italiano and Oaks d'Italia. His pioneering approach to training included major international success in America, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and he lifted the Japan Cup of 2005 with Alkaased.
Having sold their Bedford House Stables in Newmarket to Charlie Fellowes, the Cumanis maintain close links to the town's training fraternity and have horses in training William Haggas, James Fanshawe and Marco Botti, as well as Ed Walker in Lambourn and Roger Charlton at Beckhampton.
Reflecting on the events of last week, Cumani continued, “It was a great ceremony. They asked us to bring 40 people and we did that and then went out for a lovely dinner–appropriately at an Italian restaurant.”
He added, “I've been here such a long time that it's a bit difficult to class me as an Italian nowadays. I'm Italian by birth and adopted by England.”
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