Playground sold out in Foligno for the Giostra della Sfida 2024, which will award the Palio designed by Diego Miguel Mirabella. A lot of waiting to check the performance of the riders and a lot of waiting also to see Luca Innocenzi, the ‘Cannibal’, back on the field upon his return after the Daspo which kept him away last year.
Among the guests, in addition to representatives of the institutions, also the well-known singer, voice of Pooh, Dodi Battaglia. The choreographies of the Rioni are always incredible, giving vent to their creativity. The memory of the missing locals is always moving. Like that of Elio Mela, collaborator of Giostra for over 50 years, in the Technical Commission. And then, as regards the Rioni: Luciano Grandolini from Pugilli, Paolo Loreti, Vincenzo Falasca from La Mora and the ‘lady of Quintana’, Paola Soli.
Below are the updates on the evening
Quintana, the Cannibal is back: Innocenzi wins and brings Cassero back to victory
Only three districts are in the third round: Giotti, Spada and Cassero competing for the Palio di Mirabella. Riccardo Raponi, Giotti’s Animoso, loses the first ring and finishes in third place with Quintana. The time is 55”28 by 2’45”73. Then there is Tommaso Finestra dello Spada with Romantic Walk; he finishes the third round without errors. His performance is a confirmation: 54”88 for a total of 2’44”31. The closing is by Luca Innocenzi riding Otherwise. He confirms himself as a talent, a very fast and strong horse. He wins with a debutant horse. 55”17 and 2’43”57. Cassero breaks the fast that had lasted since the 2021 double and enters the record with 10 victories. Innocenzi joins the great knights such as Giusti, Formica and Margasini.
Great return to the field for Luca Innocenzi, who once again apologized to Manuela Marinangeli for what happened, then dedicating the victory to his father.
Second round. Pugilli, Badia, Morlupo and Ammanniti exit. He leads the Cassero with Innocenzi
The start is the reverse order of classification: Pugilli, Giotti, Spada, Badia, Morlupo, Cassero, Ammanniti. Raul Spera, Pugilli’s Moro, misses the first ring and goes out. The partial time is 55”19 and total 1’51”39. The Challenge continues with the Animoso of Giotti Riccardo Raponi: finishes his second round without errors: 55”16 for a total of 1’50”44. The sequel is entrusted to Tommaso Finestra, the Audace of Spade. The doors of the third round open for him, an excellent lap: the time is 54”59 for a total of 1’49”43. We continue with the Ardito del Badia Lorenzo Melosso riding Field over the sea: first ring lost and return unlucky. The lost ring causes the knight to lose his determination: 55”31 for a total of 1’50”05. It’s then Morlupo’s turn with Mario Cavallari riding Miss Baker: two missed rings and his Challenge Carousel also ends here. Trajectory errors in the curve which, in fact, determine the difficulty of arriving at the ring. The time is 55’03 for a total of 1’49”45. Now comes the Pertinax of Keep riding Altro: Innocenzi demonstrates precision on the rings and determination in his will for the chronometer. The time stops at 54”33 for a total of 1’48”39. The last one is Ammanniti’s Gagliardo Mattia Zannori riding Franceschina. Applause for his return, unfortunate mistake on the first ring. For the strong man 53”58 and 1’46”71.
Very tight first round: La Mora, Croce Bianca and Contrastanga out. Ammanniti leads, Cassero follows
The first to take the field is Mattia Zannori, Gagliardo of the Rione Ammanniti riding Franceschina. Three rings taken and she was perfect again: a mare that gallops without the slightest hesitation. Expectations are for a good time. 90 points and 53”13 hundredths of time. The second is the Generoso de La Mora with Luca Morosini riding Can Succede. Error on the rings (he loses the first and second) and two flags knocked down. The debuting horse (You are my boy was not available) did not help and Morosini ended an unlucky round: 1’03”43. Third is the binomial of Giotti with Riccardo Raponi with Daytona Man: regular again but not much on the attack. For Raponi 55”28. It is then the turn of Croce Bianca with Fedele Lorenzo Savini (22 years old, debutant from the Ente Giostra master’s school) riding Sopran Hadley: an unlucky return due to a last ring lost but all on the attack and precise. However, his time was excellent: 53”68. We continue with Lorenzo Melosso del Abbey, riding Field over the sea: slight uncertainty on the curve before the first ring and an ups and downs to recover the ring. In the end the round was error-free and the time was 54”74. The sixth pairing is the Audace dello Spade Tommaso Finestra, reigning champion, riding Romantic walk. Not an easy lap, where he had to slow down to correct trajectory errors. The time is 54”84. The seventh combination is the Rione Keep with Luca Innocenzi riding Otherwise. A round that contains the anger of a year, determined to do well. The time is 54”05 cents. It’s up to the Morlupo with Mario Cavallari, riding Miss Baker. Returned without errors marking a good debut: 54”42. The penultimate is Raul Spera, the Moro of the neighborhood Boxers, riding Run to me. Good round, focused on the rings: 56”18. He closes the first round with the Contrastanga pairing with Daniele Scarponi riding Temesvar. He loses the second and third ring and the time is 56”08.
Quintana, the duos on the field. Two horses making their debut
Palazzo Candiotti, as per tradition, he released the pairs, but new information emerged in the evening. Barring any last minute surprises, the following should take the field: Rione Ammanniti: Mattia Zannori on Franceschina; Rione La Mora: Luca Morosini on Can It Succeed; Rione Giotti: Riccardo Raponi on Daytona Man; Rione Croce Bianca: Lorenzo Savini on Sopran Hadley; Rione Badia: Lorenzo Melosso on Texas Cactus; Rione Spada: Tommaso Finestra on Romantic Walk; Rione Cassero: Luca Innocenzi on Guitto; Rione Morlupo: Mario Cavallari on Miss Baker; Rione Pugilli: Raul Spera on Run to Me; Rione Contrastanga: Daniele Scarponi on Temesvar. All in a starting order decided with the Official Practice. As for the duos, Luca Innocenzi is surprised, who chooses a debuting horse like Otherwise, unlike the announced Guitto. The other debuting horse is that of Morlupo, ridden by another debutant, the knight Baldo, Mario Cavallari.
The roll of honor
In 2023, the winner in the Challenge was Giotti with Massimo Gubbini on Daytona Man. In September it was Spada’s turn with Tommaso Finestra on Romantic Walk. All eyes are on Innocenzi who, in the event of victory, would move into second place among the most victorious riders, with 11 poles, together with Paolo Margasini and just one length behind Marcello Formica and Paolo Giusti, at 12.
(article being updated)
