CUMANI TO GAIN HIGHCLERE STAYER
March 25, 2021
Matt Cumani is to next season receive his first imported recruit from Highclere Australia that the Ballarat trainer hopes can lead to further opportunities in the European market.
Highclere Australia, which has horses with numerous trainers including with Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher, announced Cumani had been selected to train stayer Hint Of Stars when he makes his way to Australia later in the year.
‘’I don’t know a lot about him just yet but I think it is very exciting to link up with Highclere,’’ Cumani said with a developing stayer.
‘’I think we’re a natural fit with Highclere and hopefully it is the start of a really good relationship and a great way to tap into the European market.’’
Highclere said Hint Of Stars, would be aimed at the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot before a possible Ebor Handicap attempt at York before joining Cumani’s yard.
Hint Of Stars is by Sea Of Stars and has won his past three races in England.
Highclere Australia racing manager Andrew Hawkins says that the debate about who would train Hint Of Stars in Australia took place over a number of days.
“Harry (Herbert) and I had a number of conversations about the right trainer for Hint Of Stars,’’ he said.
“In the end, we had a short list of three and it was felt that Matt offered the best fit.
‘’He’s young, he’s hungry and he’s showing all the time how shrewd he is with stayers of this calibre. The facilities at Ballarat are second to none and offer the closest thing to Newmarket that you will find in Australia currently.’’
Cumani joins Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Chris Waller, Bjorn Baker, Anthony and Sam Freedman and Lindsay Park as a current Highclere trainer in Australia.
Copy: Racing.com