Newly-in-love TV commentator Francesca Cumani’s first public appearance since split with Rob Archibald

It was TV commentator Francesca Cumani’s first time at the sales since she split from her former Australian polo captain husband Rob Archibald and began a relationship with fellow British racing commentator Oli Bell. Now the star has addressed whether it’s “awkward”.

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TV racing commentator Francesca Cumani is selling her first horse at the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast today.

It is her first time at the sales since she split from her former Australian polo captain husband Rob Archibald and began a relationship with fellow British racing commentator Oli Bell.

“I guess it is only awkward if people want to make it awkward,” Ms Cumani said of the reaction from the tight-knit Australian horse racing community to the split.

“Rob and I are fine and moving on with our lives,” she said. “If people want to talk behind my back I guess that’s just human nature.”

The couple, who have a two-year-old son called Harry, were seen as racing’s pin-up couple until the unexpected breakup late last year.

Francesca Cumani with Seento ahead of this weekend's Magic Millions Race Day. Picture: Luke Marsden.

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“It came as a bolt out of the blue to everybody else but it wasn’t a shock for us,” she said. “This decision wasn’t taken on a whim. Oli and I are still together and are very happy.

“While everybody will have their opinion I think time will tell that it was the right thing to do. I am certainly a lot more happy and confident in my work,” Ms Cumani said.

Ms Cumani and Mr Archibald are both attending the $170 million yearling sales, where today Ms Cumani will sell a Scone based bay colt by I Am Invincible out of Courtesan.

“I bought Courtesan from New Zealand a few years ago in partnership with my parents and Terry Henderson from OTI racing,” she said. Her parents, Newmarket racing legend Luca and wife Sara, are also at the sales.

Francesca Cumani with ex Rob Archibald. Picture: Regina King

Oli Bell and Francesca Cumani — the couple have started a new relationship.

“We all try and claim that we found her first,” said Ms Cumani, who will be covering The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions race day for Channel 7.

At The Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo on Sunday Archibald was able to joke about the split after four years of marriage.

When the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall teased him about passing the ball to his wife even though she was on the other team Mr Archibald quipped: “We don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

Her contract with ITV means she spends up to nine months a year in the UK. “Two hemispheres makes it trickier but we have come to an agreement where we are doing the fairest thing for each of us and the very best for Harry.

“Rob and I are fine, we talk happily and co-parent Harry quite happily,” she said.

Francesca Cumani. Picture: Luke Marsden.