Cumani still in search of Holy Grail

UNLESS Bauer or Manighar fulfil Luca Cumani’s burning ambition to lift Tuesday’s Emirates Melbourne Cup it sounds as if he will continue his pilgrimage to Australia until he does.

Cumani has narrowly failed on two occasions so far, with Purple Moon going within half a length in 2007 before Bauer was beaten just a nose a year later.

As much as Cumani is said to dislike his reputation in Britain as the master of the handicaps, he seems in thrall to the puzzle of one of the most competitive major races on the planet.