The only certainty on the eve of the Palio di Siena is that anything can happen. Although Giovanni Atzeni, known as Tittia da Nurri, is favored on the eve (given his dominance in recent years), the career of the Assunta, which will be run tomorrow, is on paper wide open.
Because fate has already played its part. The draw for the horse-contrada pairings that took place during the Tratta brought Diodoro , already winner of two Palios out of three races (the last in July), to the Lupa stable. A contrada with which Tittia, a jockey who can afford to be the first to choose where he will settle, has no privileged relationship. Riding for this contrada will be another Sardinian jockey: Dino Pes, nicknamed Velluto , originally from Silanus.
The choice of the jockey from Nurri, 12 victories and just two lengths behind the "king of the square" Aceto, thus fell on Nicchio , who will race with Anda and Bola (a bay gelding, bred in Sardinia, already a winner in Piazza del Campo). The third point of the ten horses brought jubilation to the Contrada dell'Aquila , who were awarded Benitos (born in Sardinia and winner in August 2024): he will be ridden by Carlo Sanna , known as Brigante , from Sindia.
Among the big names, Giuseppe Zedde “ Gingillo ” originally from Noragugume will run for the Torre on Donrodrigo , a horse (also born on the island) on which many have their eyes set.
In total there will be seven Sardinian jockeys who will race: to the four already mentioned will be added Andrea Sanna from Oliano, known as Virgola , who will ride Viso d'Angelo (Sardinian) for Onda , and Sebastiano Murtas (Santu Lussurgiu). called Grandine su Canarinu (born on the Island) in the Selva , Michel Putzu di Teti called Spago on Diamante Sauro (origins in Pozzomaggiore) in Oca .
The picture is completed by Elias Mannucci known as Turbine on Euskaldi (Bortigali) in the Giraffe , Jonatan Bartoletti known as Scompiglio on Arestetulesu (born in Tula) in the Chiocciola , Federico Guglielmi known as Tamurè on Ares Elce (Florinas) in the Istrice .
There are two rival Contrade pairs in the Campo: Lupa-Istrice and Torre-Oca . Then there is the case of a one-sided rivalry: that of Onda, enemy of Torre, which however does not recognize this rivalry.
It's also on these relationships, including those with the other seven Contrade that won't be racing, and on the strategies implemented by the management throughout the year, that a winner will be decided. And, of course, on the skill of the jockeys and the speed of the horses. Uncertainty, fortune, and misfortune, however, cannot be controlled in Piazza del Campo. And as has been the case for centuries, anything can happen.
