Cima de Triomphe goes into the Caulfield Cup at attractive odds.
It could be argued that there is no trainer more accomplished at sending his thoroughbreds to win International Group 1 races than Luca Cumani.
Over the last thirty years, the trainer has scored in some huge worldwide races and he has sent horses to Australia with some success.
His latest globetrotter is Cima de Triomphe who will contest the G1 $2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup on Saturday and it is a race that is seemingly at the disposal of the four-year-old.
The Caulfield Cup is one of the only races that Cumani has not had any luck in and while he has had two close seconds in two years in the Melbourne Cup, he has fired two blanks at Saturday’s big race. However, that could be about to end and Cima de Triomphe looks a very good bet to give his trainer something to shout about down under.
Despite having only raced over 1m4f on two occasions, the horse looks like he relishes the trip and it is a distance that gives him time to sustain his trademark long run. He was last seen finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Arlington Million in American where he tackled 1m2f and absolutely no luck in running. Shuffled to the back of the pack, Cima de Triomphe swung for home with an awful lot to do before eventually winding his run up and finding the line in fourth place.
It was clear to see that Cumani’s horse wanted further and the Caulfield Cup under handicap rules is the key to his chances in Australia.
With form in the Arc to his name, perhaps his greatest achievement was in beating the Breeders’ Cup Turf, St Leger and King George winning hero Conduit in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Everybody is aware of what Conduit went on to achieve after that race and if Sir Michael Stoute’s horse was on his way to the Caulfield Cup he would be a heavily backed favourite.
After being given time to freshen up since his last run and with conditions (including the ground) set to suit, Cima de Triomphe looks like he is ideally placed to provide Cumani with his first success in the Caulfield Cup and at odds of 8/1 (Victor Chandler) he looks a tremendous each-way punt.