tatler.com Tatler August 2019when I was about 11. And it was
carnage – I either fell or was taken
off most days, but I loved it.’
Frankie Dettori became a surro-
gate older brother when he moved
in with the Cumani family at the
age of 14. ‘God, I used to think he
was so cool and exotic,’ she giggles,
reverting to that infatuated school-
girl. ‘I have a lasting memory of him
coming through the house and
going to the fridge, grabbing a ball
of mozzarella and just biting a
chunk out of it. He was quite way-
ward when he was younger, and his
talent needed nurturing in the right
direction. It’s amazing that he’s still
such an incredible athlete and such
an ambassador for the sport.’
After university, Luca recruited
his daughter to travel with the
horses around the world ‘To Dubai,
Australia, or wherever the action
was happening. I learnt a lot very
quickly... You are flying with them,
in charge of the feed, the exercise,
the care, their wellbeing. It was a
steep learning curve.’
Did she ever consider taking the
reins from her father at Bedford
House Stables? ‘My dad is quite old-
fashioned. I think he thinks train-
ing racehorses is for men,’ she says,
tilting her head in mild exasperation.
‘My brother Matthew does that in
Melbourne. But Dad is just really
pleased I found a career I love and
that keeps me involved in the
sport, but which doesn’t have all
the taxing demands of being a
trainer – it’s a 24-hour, 365-day
job, it really is.’
She would nevertheless like to
train one day. ‘I’d love to put all
I’ve learnt into practice.’ For now,
she works hard to imbue her
commentary with facts and flair
and it’s her diligence that sets her
apart from her male counterparts.
She adds, with a touch of defiance,
that ‘when it comes to commentary
and talking about sport, is there
any reason why women can’t have
the same credibility?
‘Ed [Chamberlain, her co-host on
ITV] didn’t grow up riding or racing,
yet somehow as a woman you feel
that you need to prove yourself
more. That’s boring but true.’ ]BYS TA NDE R
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