6 Friday, July 24, 2020 racingpost.com INTERVIEW ‘TV wasn’t a natural fit – I’m not somebody who likes to be centre ofof attention’

teacher let me off to watch the race. always been absolutely blown away FRANCESCA Falbrav always stood out too – he was by the scale of the raceday and the CUMANI an absolute powerhouse.” parade,” she says. “You go to the Horses are in every twist and turn newsagent to buy the paper and The ITV presenter of her genetic code so it was people stop to ask after your horse. unsurprising Cumani decided to “There’s a huge interest in foreign speaks to Jonathan pursue a career in racing, but working horses at the spring carnival too. Harding about her out which route she wanted to take When I was there with Purple Moon I life in racing proved far more complicated. became a bit of a spokesperson for She already spoke Italian, studied the yard and the next year I was asked French and Spanish at Bristol to do guest presenting.” RANCESCA CUMANI University and spent her summers Cumani was snapped up by quickly leaps up from the working with the horses. She Channel 7 and contributed to its table for a second time to gravitated back to the yard after her coverage annually until it lost the F stop her new puppy from degree too and considered going into rights to the Melbourne Cup in 2019, chasing the chickens the family business, as her brother when she moved over to its new around the garden. The offender, who Matt did in Australia. broadcaster Channel 10. arrived a day earlier and has not yet “I wanted to do something hands- At this point, photographer Edward been named, is one of several free- on but wasn’t able to pinpoint exactly Whitaker, now in charge of the puppy, range animals at her home near what that was at a young age,” says interjects and accuses Cumani of Newmarket, a farmhouse that would Cumani. “Training was always in the undue modesty when it comes to her not look out of place in Country Life back of my mind but it seemed quite time in Australia, where she was magazine. daunting. introduced as racing royalty. “We don’t chase the chickens,” “It wasn’t particularly encouraged. Yet despite her popularity, Cumani the ITV Racing presenter tells the What was probably encouraged more at times questioned whether tiny lurcher puppy, a picture of was a career as a trainer’s wife. I presenting suited her personality. She innocence now sat on her owner’s wouldn’t say no to going down the paints a picture of being reserved, lap. training route but it’s a tough industry something that does not come across Cumani’s experience in live at the moment.” in her coverage. television has evidently paid off as Perhaps inspired by the presence of “I wasn’t sure if it was a natural fit,” she seamlessly picks up our Frankie Dettori in the yard, she took she says. “I’m not somebody who conversation about her childhood at out her amateur licence at 18 and likes to be the centre of attention. If Bedford House Stables, where her twice earned her weight in I’m at a dinner party, I’m the last father Luca trained seven Classic champagne, winning the Queen person who would stand up to tell a winners. Mother’s Cup in 2005 and 2006. joke or a funny story. “Sometimes I took it a bit for “I had such a burning ambition to “I generally like to listen more than granted because I was in the middle do it,” she remembers. “I really talk but I love the challenge of live of it from a very young age but I loved wanted the experience and had television. You have to perform and the atmosphere,” she says. around 25 rides but often the races I’m an adrenaline junkie.” “My mum used to complain about came just after my university exams In the distance, Purple Moon, who having the office in our house but I so I was out of practice. I loved it but lives with Cumani and a white pony enjoyed that because we had people wouldn’t claim to have been any great belonging to her four-year-old son coming and going all the time. You shakes in the saddle.” Harry, has roamed into the back get caught up in the highs and lows of Cumani travelled abroad with her garden, something his owner is not the yard – it sucks you in. father’s runners and she credits her remotely surprised about. “I used to ride my pony out with presenting breakthrough to Purple He has been known to interrupt her the string and pestered Dad to let me Moon, about whom she was regularly preparation for a raceday, which can engage with them. expertise in the world but if you’re ride racehorses. He tried to find me interviewed before his second in the Cumani prides herself on. She even “It’s quite obvious that betting isn’t unable to get it across well, then quiet ones but most days I would fall 2007 Melbourne Cup. offers to provide evidence, running really my thing. My passion for horses there’s no point in having it.” or get taken off with. I wasn’t to be “I still go every year and have into the house to retrieve her latest got me into racing and I love Accessibility has been ITV Racing’s dissuaded though.” colour-coded notes. conveying that to others.” mantra since it took over from The 37-year-old was sadly not “I was always a bit of a nerd at That has shaped her approach on Channel 4 as the sport’s terrestrial called up to ride the likes of Falbrav, school,” she confesses. “I always did ITV Racing and she is constantly broadcaster in 2017, when it brought who landed a number of big prizes ‘I generally like to my homework and liked to be trying to improve the way she conveys in Cumani and Ed Chamberlin to co- worldwide, nor the yard’s second listen more than talk prepared. When I’m presenting, I’m her knowledge to viewers. host its coverage. Derby winner High-Rise, but she there to inform and entertain so I “I was lucky to grow up where I did “I’m surrounded by people who fondly remembers their successes. but I love the need to know what I’m talking about and I picked up so much through know a lot about racing and they were “The first horse who really as there are unfortunately no hiding osmosis, things you’d struggle to sceptical when ITV first started,” she registered with me was Kahyasi,” she challenge of live places in live television. learn second-hand,” she adds. “I’m says. “But if you want more in-depth says. “I was only little but I remember television. You have “You can’t ever know too much gaining knowledge all the time, industry chat then there are other his Derby win in 1988. and it’s good to always have it at particularly from my colleagues. options available. “I was actually in the middle of a to perform and I’m your fingertips. I like to give people “It’s about translating what I know “Our ambition is to get as many tennis match at school when High- a backstory for horses, so people into a digestible form for the people people watching as possible and Rise won ten years later and my an adrenaline junkie’ who may not be racing enthusiasts at home. You can have all the appeal to different groups without Racing Post Friday, July 24, 2020 7

Pictures: EDWARD WHITAKER (RACINGPOST.COM/PHOTOS) Country life: Francesca Cumani relaxes at home near Newmarket, where an as-yet-unnamed lurcher puppy and Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon are among the residents

Racing had a massive opportunity but the show couldn’t be all-singing, all- dancing while people were still struggling at home. “People kept asking what I would wear at Ascot. Half the viewers probably wanted to see a bit of glamour and fashion, but others may have viewed that as being out of touch with the situation. “I think after the Cheltenham Festival racing had to tread its way carefully and I believe it did that. Things have gone really well.” UMANI will return to Ascot for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth C Qipco Stakes tomorrow but is a little disappointed by the field, which consists of Enable and three Aidan O’Brien runners. “You always hope it’s going to be the race of the season,” she says. “I think a concentration of power is happening on the Flat and over jumps. The very best horses are in the hands of only a few people. “The runners are undoubtedly talented but it lacks a bit of interest when fewer trainers are represented. That in turn affects betting revenue, which racing is ultimately incredibly reliant on.” Cumani is involved in racing as an owner and a breeder, with three mares in Britain and Australia, and she understands why there appears to be a lack of depth in the middle- distance department. “People are unlikely to try to breed a Derby horse as they’re unlikely to win it,” she adds. “Those who cannot afford Galileo are still having to go up against several O’Brien runners. You can’t really compete. alienating anybody. You can’t explain always struggled with confidence but profession so there aren’t too many recognised for her work when she “Financially it makes far more things all the time but you can’t you have to believe in yourself. I do direct comparisons. was crowned joint-winner of the SJA’s sense to be involved in Australia and assume knowledge either.” think TV is a confidence game. If you “As for being a female presenter, it’s Sports Broadcaster of the Year award I’m one of many people who think Cumani was living in Australia look unsure, it does show.” a tough one. I think a lot of women in alongside Chamberlin in 2019. that way. The industry here is when ITV approached her and, while Are the expectations higher for the what would appear to be a male- Fast forward 16 months and propped up by wealthy people who it came as a surprise, it was not an daughter of a famous trainer, or, dominated world will tell you that Cumani was covering the first do not need to make it break even, opportunity she was going to turn equally, for a female presenter on a they have to work harder and prove behind-closed-doors meetings from but others do. Something has to be down. largely male presenting team? themselves more. her home following the resumption of done about prize-money.” It was a major achievement, but she “When I’m on air I often envisage “I can sympathise with that. I do racing, overcoming an obvious lack of The farrier arrives before we are pauses when asked whether she ever Dad watching at home and I think, ‘I remember a few times early on in trust in her internet speed. able to get to the bottom of that issue takes the time to reflect on it, before shouldn’t have said that’ – I can Australia when people would say, ‘It’s Thankfully, she was allowed back but we are not allowed to depart saying: “Everybody has that element picture him rolling his eyes,” she says, amazing because you actually know on track for Royal Ascot and says: without meeting Purple Moon, also of self-doubt and they wonder when before pointing out her parents’ what you’re talking about too’. The “The weirdest thing was the silence known as George, nor without a people are going to realise they’re not Fittocks Stud in the distance. inference is that I’m just there for when the winners came in. We handful of freshly laid eggs. very good and that they’re just “I’m not naive enough to think the what I look like, and that grates on me clapped them in and I think Frankie We leave Cumani to continue her bluffing. name hasn’t helped in a lot of ways sometimes.” was grateful for an audience. preparations for Ascot and she waves “But then you stand back and and it possibly brings a sense of There is no doubting her “Our coverage during those first goodbye as we navigate our way past appreciate why you’re there. I’ve expectation, but I’m in a different professionalism and she was weeks had to be a bit tempered. her many animals.