Legendary Trainer Luca Cumani was unfortunate not to retire with a winner from his final runner, after Swansdown could only manage second place in the Nursery Handicap at Wolverhampton last night.
Swansdown - who was a well backed favourite before hand, came from the rear of the field to thunder home, but was ultimately given too much to do by his jockey Oisin Murphy. The Roger Teal-trained Fitwood Star got the first break and ran on to win by a length under Robert Winston.
Murphy also was penalised with a two-day ban, for using the whip above the permitted level.
(Credit: Racing Post) Cumani said: “She was beaten by the draw, no doubt. She jumped well but ended up last and on fast all-weather tracks it’s hard to come from last and win unless you’re a champion.
"The encouraging thing is she finished the race well and she’s a mile-and-a-half filly for next year, in keeping with her family.
"On today’s showing she’ll win a couple of races and she’ll be a nice filly for someone else to train,” he said.
This brought an end to Cumani's illustrious 43-year training career, where he trained a multitude of high-profile horses, including 45 Group 1 winners, seven of which, were Classic winners.
He will go down as one of the sports' best.
(Credit At The Races)