Liborio, the indestructible. Barbaricina in the feminine

On Sunday at San Rossore The 34th was at the top of the list of interests Enrico Camici Award and the 29 ° Barbaricina Award, two Main Handicaps that guaranteed great uncertainty. Two races set in the competitive present but also, historically, in a glorious past such as that of “Barbaricina country of horses” and its many protagonists. Eight speed specialists faced each other in the “Enrico Camici” prize, 1200 meters, which saw Er Faina and Free Nation as favorites. The finish line instead sanctioned the predominance of the indestructible Liborium (M. Sanna) who, despite a very expensive season, managed to repel Ninco Nanco. Thirteen horses in the “Barbaricina” prize, 1750 meters, with the filly Spinster in the role of favourite. In the final reckoning the mare could not go beyond an honourable third place, beaten by Exertive (S. Sulas), who was our favourite, and Miss Michenry.

A race that was now traditional in the San Rossore calendar was the Filippo Mazzei Circle Award that remembered a great figure (Mazzei was a doctor, philosopher, politician known throughout the world until the newborn United States of America) but also the intense activity of the cultural association that draws inspiration from him. There were 13 horses at the start in this maiden over 1600 meters. The favorites were on Elegant Power but the bay son of Ebrah disappointed, giving way to Invincibiletomorrow (G. Ercegovic) and Rhodreego. The vice president Teresa Sichetti awarded the prize. In the handicap race “Nova Estintori” Award, 2400 meters – a race that underlined the importance of having qualified sponsors in the activities of a racecourse – a field that was too small for starters and favourites for Anthimus but even this favourite ended up knocked out. He won Fly High (M. Sanna) preceding Cyclone Arrow.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the race that opened the conference, reserved for gentlemen riders and female riders, and dedicated, over the distance of 1750 metres, to a figure of great sporting merit such as Pier Vittorio Zaini. An industrialist of a historic company in the chocolate field, Zaini was also a passionate horseman who won, despite his commitment to the confectionery industry, 520 races in a long career that often saw him as a protagonist on the tracks of San Rossore. His son Luigi, linked to the world of thoroughbreds after the death of his father, in San Rossore as in other Italian racecourses, every year, on the occasion of the Pier Vittorio Zaini prize, had put up beautiful packages of sweets as prizes. Here the favorite was Le Bagarre (C. Sanna) who did not disappoint. We return to racing not on Thursday but on Sunday 30 March with the XI Palio dei Comuni della Provincia di Pisa which will see 25 bell towers compete.

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