Palio di Siena, the first trial (picture by Paolo Lazzeroni)
Siena, 14th august 2017 - It finally happened! Yesterday morning, the Tratta took place and the horses names were revealed to the audience. Let’s proceed step by step. At 9 o’clock the piazza was crowded and the people was excited to see the 35 horses run, divided in 5 groups in order to show their skills to the captains of the Contradas who had to choose the lotto.
This August Tratta brought out a strong lotto due to captains strategies. In fact, among the selected horses, there are the favorites: Morosita Prima that won two Palio in 2013 and 2015; Polonski that won the Palio of Assunta last year and Sarbana the winner of this last July. Attention should also be paid on Renalzos, that arrived second in the Palio of July 2017. One of the greatest surprise was the exclusion of Preziosa Penelope due to its incredible performances and whoever would have had her, would have probably won. At 1,30 pm , the “assegnazione”, the moment during which the horses are assigned randomly to the Contradas. The couples are: Chiocciola with Solo Tue Due, Selva with Quasimodo di Gallura, Oca with Renalzos, Valdimontone with Sarbana, Torre with Polonski, Istrice with Morosita Prima, Onda with Porto Alabe, Lupa with Quore de Sedini, Aquila with Rocco Ro, Bruco with S’Othieresu. Immediately after the assignment, the strategies about jokeys began.
Even though the jokeys are not certain until the final race, it is probable that Scompiglio, who won three times consecutively (two times in 2016 with the Lupa, and last July with Giraffa), will decide to run with Sarbana in order to achieve the Cappotto. If he won this Palio, he would be the first jokey to conquer four Palio in the history of this tradition. The other possible jokeys are Tittia with Istrice, and Trecciolino ‘’who comes back home’’ to Bruco. The first proof took place at 7.15pm in a square which was full than ever. Among the canapi, all the horses were calm except the horse of Istrice. During the first turn, Chiocciola had advantage but at the end of the race the contrada of Onda won the first place followed by Aquila and Selva.
Giulia Staggini
Franck Balladur Limofoue Vodja