Top English trainer Luca Cumani knew the Melbourne Cup was a great challenge but could hardly believe what he was seeing at Flemington.For the 12th time Bart Cummings had won the Melbourne Cup and Cumani could only marvel at the feat as he reflected on the difficulty of the task to win the race just once.For the second in a year a row Cumani had trained the second placegetter with Geelong Cup winner Bauer going down by the smallest possible margin to the Cummings-trained Viewed.Last year the Cum
Top English trainer Luca Cumani knew the Melbourne Cup was a great challenge but could hardly believe what he was seeing at Flemington.
For the 12th time Bart Cummings had won the Melbourne Cup and Cumani could only marvel at the feat as he reflected on the difficulty of the task to win the race just once.
For the second in a year a row Cumani had trained the second placegetter with Geelong Cup winner Bauer going down by the smallest possible margin to the Cummings-trained Viewed.
Last year the Cumani-trained Purple Moon had victory snatched away when second to the fast finishing Efficient.
"Hats off to Bart," Cumani said. "A remarkable man. It is a really hard race to win."
To the naked eye Bauer appeared to have his nose in front of Viewed when they hit the line, and even the television cameras zoomed in on the pint-sized grey as the horses were pulling up, suggesting he had won.
Cumani wasn't so sure.
"Once they flashed past the post together I was just hoping that he was in front," Cumani said.
"There was absolutely nothing in it."
"I couldn't be happier for the horse. It was incredible how he ran."
Bauer started at $21 while Cumani also trained the favourite Mad Rush, who finished ninth.
Cumani trains 80 horses at Newmarket and has won plenty of big races, including the Epsom Derby twice.
His passion for the Melbourne Cup is as strong as ever and despite the disappointment, he remains determined to return again next year for another crack.
"I will be back, don't worry," he said.