The tuff stone laid out in Piazza del Campo bears the hoof marks of the Anglo-Arab-Sardinians who, since yesterday, have found homes in the ten contrade (districts) that will participate in the Palio on July 2nd. The heat in Siena is scorching, and not just because of the weather: evidence of this is the explosion of joy at the horses' selection by the members of Onda, Oca, and Aquila, who were randomly assigned Anda and Bola, respectively, and Benitos and Diodoro, already winners in the square. The jockeys were then chosen accordingly, with one notable outcast, Jonatan Bartoletti "Scompiglio," one of Siena's most experienced riders, having run 33 Palios and won five.
The leader
Giovanni Atzeni, "Tittia," the undisputed leader of Piazza del Campo, certainly knew where he was headed. He was called by L'Aquila to ride his Diodoro (born in the Castelnuovo Berardenga stables of the Nurri jockey), with whom he won the Palio della Madonna di Provenzano on July 2nd. "Tittia" is therefore seeking new records, including that of returning victory to L'Aquila 34 years to the day since Galleggiante gave it to the yellow-and-blue contrada on July 3rd, 1992, after a historic war of ropes between Aceto and Legno (Sebastiano Deledda di Lula).
Onda, on the other hand, has entrusted Anda and Bola, winner of the last Palio held in August 2025 (wearing the colors of Valdimontone and Giuseppe Zedde "Gingillo," originally from Noragugume), to Carlo Sanna "Brigante," an experienced jockey from Sindia who has won three times, most recently in the colors of the Casato contrada in July two years ago. Benitos, drawn by Oca, will be ridden by Sebastiano Murtas "Grandine" from Santu Lussurgiu, who has won 14 races in the Piazza without a single victory.
The others
Five other horses in the chosen group have at least one career: Diosu De Campeda, whom Giraffa has entrusted to Federico Guglielmi "Tamurè" from Siena; Volpino, who will be ridden by Andrea Sanna, aka "Virgola," from Oliena; Viso d'Angelo, who will be ridden by Giuseppe Zedde "Gingillo," wearing the Civetta jacket. Canarinu, in the colors of Valdimontone, has been entrusted to the newcomer Salvatore Nieddu, originally from Burgos, a pupil of none other than "Aceto," aka Andrea Degortes from Olbia, the only one to amass 14 victories (the last one in 1992 with Aquila) in the modern era. Finally, Entu de Pedra Ulpu was drawn by Torre, rival of Oca, and will be ridden by Enrico Bruschelli “Bellocchio” from Siena, son of Luigi “Trecciolino”, the only one capable of unseating Aceto with 13 triumphs.
