by Laura Valdesi
SIENA
Three pairs of rivals, two Contrade at the hemp that won a quarter of a century ago, the Nicchio in 1998, the Chiocciola in 1999. Three big jockeys who are hungry for victory for completely different reasons: Tittia after 5 consecutive successes has interrupted the positive streak and for the German Sardinian two Carriere without raising the nerve already seem too many. Scompiglio needs to win after photo-finish finishes, the Palio lost in the Pantera due to a slip when he was launched towards triumph, the fall in San Martino in July from which he recovered fighting like a lion. Gingillo, then, returns after a Palio of disqualification that went wrong for him. “I want to maximize the only opportunity of 2024”, he said urbi et orbi. But there is also Brigante who is regenerated by Provenzano’s triumph with Tabacco. He has acquired a taste for winning, making a clean sweep would be the crowning glory for him. A poker of jockeys, therefore, who will influence the strategies and today will animate an interesting waltz of the mounts. This is where the horses come into play. Because everyone has repeated like a broken record that they will choose based precisely on the name in the stable and also on the situation. With Zio Frac gone from the scene after the night tests – the reason for the choice of the vets is not clear but Bellocchio’s answer (interview on page 5) leaves open several interpretations – 35 horses are arriving in the Entrone today. There are in total 14 who ran in the Piazza (even if Volpino did not go to the hem): Anda and Bola, Remorex, Tale e quale, Zenis to which must be added 9 (except Ungaros excluded after the pre-visit) who ran the last Provenzano: Akida, Ardeglina, Ares Elce, Brivido sardo, Criptha, Tabacco, Veranu, Viso d’Angelo and Zenios. A hard core of experts that was what captains and jockeys were calling for after the six debutants in July. A group that allows you to include 6-7 who have run the Palio and no more than three debutants. Here the chess game begins. The exclusion of Zio Frac and the rumors also linked to the six rivals make us think that Anda and Bola and Tale, plus Remorex, are at risk of returning to the box. While Tabacco, Viso d’angelo, Veranu, Ares Elce, Brivido sardo could reappear at the canape. We will then have to see if they will also be able to earn the pass for August Criptha and Akida. While it will be a red card for Zenios and Ardeglina. As repeated by the captains, however, the heats today at 9 will be decisive. Because if it happens like in July, when many names considered interesting for different reasons were left out of the list to choose from, then the scenario could change. And a reshuffle will occur whose consequences are difficult to predict now. The other interesting game is the new debutants. Where will they be fished? Maybe Zenis will be back in the running, but she already ran in the Bruco a year ago with Bellocchio who could wear the Civetta jacket in August. There are interesting horses with the letter D, therefore 5 years old: Diocleziano and Dorotea Dimmonia, for example. But the captains will look first among the most adult and experienced. Here then the name of Benitos reappears, Comancio gains ground, Gingillo spoke well of Unamore, there is Zentiles, also to watch Benito baio and Canarinu. So much meat on the fire, so many joints that need to fall into place. In the meantime, the starter Renato Bircolotti returns for the second time on the Verrocchio ready to redeem the disputed performance of 2022.