In the end it was a Tratta much less tepid than one might have imagined, with six debuting horses and four already experienced even if never victorious. The greatest exultation came from Valdimontone (Ungaros) and Pantera (Viso d’Angelo), followed by Onda who welcomed Tabacco with enthusiasm – more moderate. Three of the four barberi who have already trod the tuff, in addition to Veranu who was drawn to Oca.
What was surprising, if anything, were the long times, even if it was perhaps predictable in a lot with so many new horses: with the heats concluded around a quarter past ten, the assignment ended around two in the afternoon, under the scorching sun that was beating down. the crowded square.
The rite of fate opened with the debutant Brivido Sardo assigned to the Bruco, greeted by the disappointment of the people of via del Comune. Immediately after Valdimontone’s celebration for the arrival of Ungaros, one of the four horses that have already raced. In the alternation decided by fate, there is still a debutant (Criptha alla Civetta) and an expert, perhaps the most awaited, Viso d’Angelo who takes the road to Stalloreggi with the Contrada members of the Pantera.
At the halfway point of the ten barbers the Goose receives Veranu (third of the horses that have already raced) and the Lupa brings the debutant Zenios to Vallerozzi’s stable.
Another horse making its debut for the seventh pairing, with Akida going to Nicchio. Then Ares Elce to Leocorno, another horse that will run its first Palio on July 2, while the last gasp of the Piazza is the one that comes from the contradaioli dell’Onda, who fishes out the last already experienced barbero, Tabacco, taking him to Malborghetto. To complete the assignment, Giraffa, who is assigned Ardeglina.
It is thus two in the afternoon when the trumpets sound again and the hunt for the mounts begins, which this time is prolonged a little compared to the hectic times of recent years, when in the space of half an hour everything fell into place.
The presence of six debuting horses may have influenced these dynamics, although in the end it is the choice of the most highly rated jockeys that conditions all subsequent moves. Nothing to do with the dynamics of the past, which often prolonged possible settlements until late at night.
O.P.
