Alberto Cocconi ready for Piazza di Siena

Alberto Cocconi is one of the 19 jockeys that will take part in the 77th Piazza di Siena. We met up with the veteran and asked him a few questions. So Alberto what would happen if you got a call-up to the first team? I will go to Rome with only one horse, a very young one at that. We are living through a critical moment in the first team so a horse like mine could really be useful. I think it could be up to a Cup of this level but it is a little premature for this kind of talk considering his inexperience: he only has one 1 meter 60 course to his name at the Toscana Tour. He has only a few months experience but obviously if he were to become the chosen one then I would certainly not say no, I would be ready. My goal is to watch him closely and look to have his fully ready for next year. The order of the day is to make him compete on the most important arenas: I think it is right that he competes in an arena like Villa Borghese so that we can plan for his future. What are his characteristics, is he a fast horse? I am not a rider who usually tires out his horses so I do not look for speed in my horses. At the highest level like the CSIO in Rome taking home a full round is already an excellent result and means finishing amongst the top riders, without looking at the time. We’ll start in the ‘big’ category and not in the low and fast ones. Are the light obstacles a good or bad thing? I think that this sport is moving forward much like other sports. In order to improve the technique and the level of difficulty we couldn’t work on the height which had already reached its limit. The issue tends towards technique and so shorter and lighter obstacles that require more technique. In order to be able to work more on the selection of horses and riders or to bring the best out of some horses and the athletes the choice of latest materials is a winning choice. Which opponents do you fear the most? In our sport you don’t take to the arena with a point to beat one opponent in particular. Certainly there is respect and admiration for the big names of the world circuit but when the buzzer sounds you only think about the first course and your own performance.