Cumani In The Dark Over Obaid Move

Trainer Luca Cumani had admitted that he is in the dark as to why longtime loyal owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum removed his entire 35-horse string from Cumani’s Bedford House Stables Wednesday, saying in a statement on his website Sheikh Obaid gave him no explanation, but telling Racing UK he had an idea something was coming. Among those horses–who will all be transferred to fellow Newmarket trainer Roger Varian–is Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who Cumani trained to win this year’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and Sunday’s G2 Prix Foy, a prep for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Oct. 4.

“Obviously we’re all very shocked; I especially feel very sorry for the staff, who’ve worked hard on these horses all year,” Cumani told Racing UK. The trainer revealed that there were rumblings in the spring that there could be a move, and it was confirmed to him after Glorious Goodwood’s meeting last month that there would be a change, with no date set.

“Now recently I’ve been told I’m not to run any more horses,” he said. “But I want to take this opportunity to thank Sheikh Obaid for 20 years of support and many, many good horses. I’ve been privileged to train them for him and I hope he was satisfied with the races they won. Thank you very much, we turn the page and move on.”

Sheikh Obaid, a cousin of Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, raced G1 Epsom Derby winner High-Rise (Ire) with Cumani, as well as Dubawi’s dam, Zomaradah (GB) (Deploy {GB}), winner of the G2 Oaks d’Italia. Sheikh Obaid had his entire British string with Cumani