Fantasia on song for French recovery mission

Good form of Luca Cumani stable increases confidence in filly's bid for the Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday
Newmarket's erudite Italian has a ready explanation for his globetrotting policy. “English races are for prestige, foreign races are for money,” Luca Cumani said yesterday. But while most of his marquee horses are being prepared for far-flung destinations, Cumani has pressing concerns closer to home in the coming days.
First, he heads to France, seeking to secure a classic win for his beautifully-bred filly, Fantasia. Then, through an unbeaten horse from Greece that embodies the cosmopolitan outlook of his trainer, he will aim to end a 12-year barren spell at Royal Ascot.
Cumani could hardly be in better form for the projects. Since Cima De Triomphe won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes last month, he has been operating with a strike-rate of almost 40 per cent, instilling a confidence at Bedford House that translates to Fantasia's bid for the Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday.
A facile winner of the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, she was only third at odds-on in the French 1,000 Guineas but Cumani is forgiving. “I wasn't disappointed with the filly, only that she was unable to express herself,” he said.
“It wasn't run to suit her at all - there was a slow gallop which turned into a sprint. We had always planned to find out if she'd stay further than a mile and, as the Diane is only ten furlongs, this seems like a good moment.”
Frankie Dettori retains the ride on Fantasia but it will be William Buick who partners Ialysos, Cumani's principal Ascot hope. It is on the advice of Buick that the Golden Jubilee Stakes on the final day has been chosen ahead of the King's Stand on the first.
“William is a bright boy and he thinks he'll be better over six furlongs,” Cumani said of the “Greek freak”, who won all seven of his starts on a sand surface in his native land before landing a listed race at Haydock on his first run in England.
“His owner has had horses here for years and she sent him over as no one wanted to take him on any more in Greece. He's a lovely-looking horse but he's the only sprinter I have, he's been working with milers and it's hard for me to say how good he might be. It will be exciting to take him to the Golden Jubilee against all the other overseas runners but it will be sad if he loses that unbeaten record.”
Cumani has the ante-post favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup in Riggins but reports that he will miss the race. “He didn't come out of his win at Goodwood well,” he explained. “I'll run Axiom in the Hunt Cup instead but, otherwise, we'll be thin at Ascot.”
Presvis misses the Prince of Wales's Stakes and is resting before an autumn campaign, while Curtain Call and Cima De Triomphe are both being considered for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 28.
Mad Rush is heading to Ireland for the Curragh Cup later this month and Bauer, runner-up in the Melbourne Cup last November, is back in work and will run in England next month before heading back to Australia for a second attempt on the elusive prize.
Source:The times