Racing: Eclipse returns Cumani to big league

The way Luca Cumani had planned it Darryll Holland would take Falbrav briskly out of the gate and then tuck him in behind the pace. There could be no loitering at the start because with 15 runners in the field, the largest assembled in the Eclipse Stakes for 28 years, it was likely to develop into a rough race with serious traffic problems.

Holland carried out Cumani's instructions exactly. Coming into the straight, he eased the big bay off the rail clear of a developing controversy that led to Jamie Spencer receiving a five-day suspension for his tactics on the Godolphin pacemaker Narrative.

In the stands, Cumani's eyes nervously darted between a television screen and the track. When Holland went for home the train of thought was the jockey had gone too soon. "That was the longest three furlongs of my life," he said after Falbrav held off the closing 6-4 favourite Nayef to win by three-quarters of a length.

In the context of life itself Cumani's remark sounded like an overstatement but in view of his experiences over the past few years it was understandable. A career that includes two Derby winners, Kahyasi and High-Rise, took a sharp downturn when he and the Aga Khan fell out, a blow he described as like being relegated to the Nationwide League. Continuing the football analogy he spoke about Saturday's victory in the 106th running of the grand old race as promotion to the Premiership.

In the parade ring Falbrav cut an imposing figure as befitted a Group One winner in Italy and Japan but not enough to shorten his price from the opening 8-1, most of the attention taken by Nayef and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Islington who had the look of a winner with Kieren Fallon in the saddle.

The season's first clash of generations had brought a sizeable crowd to Sandown Park, most in shirt sleeve order, many with a pint glass held in eager paw as befits a day out for racing's proletariat. The queues at the windows were long and lively, enthusiasm raised by Persian Punch's brave victory in the Esher Stakes. With his pronounced shoulders and piston-like back legs Persian Punch would not look out of place in a charge of heavy cavalry.

Seemingly out of it at the furlong marker, he responded to Martin Dwyer's urging to get his nose in front on the line. Big horse. Big performance. From the cheer that went up it was a popular victory and carried a hint of what was to come. Was it to be a day for big horses?

Anyway Cumani was quietly confident about Falbrav's chances, believing that the bleakest period of his career had reached a turning point. "When the horse came to me I knew that he was something special,'' he said. "I just wish I'd had him since he was two. He made an immediate impression, easy to train.'' Switching analogies, turned to boxing for his next description. "He is the heavyweight champion who believes he is the greatest, full of confidence and power both mentally and physically,'' the trainer added.

Anthropomorphic assessment is frequently taken to ludicrous limits by racing romantics but Cumani was entitled to feel close to his horse in the excitement of victory. Above all, Cumani is a class act, a proud Italian from Milan whose head remained high throughout the troubled days. "This was his (Falbrav) best performance,'' he said. "He was in front sooner than ideal but the gaps had opened up and Darryll had to take them. I always felt we had a good chance, but not in my wildest dreams did I think he'd do it like he did.''

If Nayef's challenge was seriously undermined by Narrative's interference just as he was gaining momentum, it took nothing away from the winning. "It was a big field and you can't expect things to go your way in every race,'' Nayef's trainer Marcus Tregoning said.

For Holland everything went perfectly. "It was a bit rough, but I had a good position. I just had to wait and once we hit the front I knew we were going to win. The horse found the next gear as soon as I asked."

However you looked at things they were good for Cumani, good for the audience and good for racing.