Yesthis one The always large group of Anglo-Arab Sardinian horses, always protagonists and multiple winners of the Palio di Siena, will this year be entirely composed of subjects born and bred in Sardinia. The ten horses protagonists today of the Palio della Madonna di Provenzano all come from the island. Five Sardinian jockeys. Here are the protagonists: for the Valdimontone district Jhonatan Bartoletti with Ungaros; for the Panther Enrico Bruschelli “Bellocchio” on Angel face; Caterpillar Mattia Chiavassa with Sardinian Thrill; Leocorn Sebastiano Murtas “Grandine” su Ares Elce; Lupa Andrea Coghe “Tempesta” on Zenios; Civetta Federico Guglielmi “Tamurè” with Criptha; Goose Giovanni Atzeni “Tittia” on Summer; Giraffe Gabriele Puligheddu on Ardeglina; Nicchio Elias Mannucci “Turbine” on Ideology; Onda Carlo Sanna “Brigante” on Tobacco. The Sardinian jockeys: Murtas, Atzeni, Coghe, Puligheddu and Sanna.
And favorites None of the horses on the track have already won the Palio and there are six debuting horses so there is great uncertainty in the predictions, also because there are no subjects that have particularly distinguished themselves in official races and in provincial Palios. Good things are said about the horses of Oca (Veranu) and Onda (Tabacco) entrusted respectively to the Sardinian jockeys Giovanni Atzeni and Carlo Sanna who will make their experience count. A good indication can be given by the “trials” won by Lupa, Onda and Nicchio (twice). In choosing the horses, the focus was on a leveling of values to maintain good chances for all the competitors. As is known, the record for victories belongs to Andrea Degortes “Aceto” with 14 successes, followed by Bruschelli-Trecciolino with 13, no longer active, then “Tittia” Giovanni Atzeni, a real up-and-coming rider of recent years who, with 10 successes, could get close to Aceto and eventually reach him, having on his side a particular ability in riding bareback.
The victories The history of the Palio di Siena includes dozens and dozens of victories of Sardinian horses that have written their names in the Roll of Honour, from the legendary Panezio (8 victories), Uberta de Mores (5), Urbino de Ozieri (3), Galleggiante (2), Benito III (4), Rimini to the many others who have won at least once. Several Sardinian horses have been able to achieve the so-called “cappotto” that is, winning both the July and August Palio in the same year and among these Uberta de Mores twice (1960-61), Panezio and Urbino de Ozieri who, let us remember, after three victories was no longer admitted due to his “manifest superiority”. In the more recent 2000s, Ugo Sanchez, Fedora Saura, Istriceddu, Preziosa Penelope, Porto Alabe and Zio Frac have distinguished themselves with at least two victories. In addition to Atzeni and Sanna, the ability and skill of our riders will be defended by the young Sebastiano Murtas for Leocorno, originally from Santulussurgiu who has several participations under his belt, and the debutant Gabriele Puligheddu from Oliena, who arrived in the Palio environment after a varied experience that also saw him ride in France. The one who is living this eve with particular anxiety is the former professional jockey Massimino Coghe, still active in the equestrian environment of the Palio. Already winner of three Palios: in 1988 for Nicchio, in 1994 for Pantera and in 1999 for Chiocciola, he ran his last “career” in 2006 and awaits and hopes for a success for his son Andrea, already winner of the extraordinary Palio 2018 with Remorex, who will ride Zenios for Lupa. A horse that boasts two victories at the racecourse and that will have to adapt to the tuff of Piazza del Campo, with good auspices given the victory of one of the “trials”.
Island protagonist About twenty years ago, the Mayor of Siena signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sardinian Horse Breeding Institute, which established the characteristics of the “palio” horses, which, first of all, had to be Arab-based and with a compact model. This was to avoid excessive speed, which, on the tortuous route of Piazza del Campo, had caused several accidents.
