Our accompanying feature on the Palio di Siena
earlier in this edition is testament to the Sienese pas-
sion for the horse, and indeed it was the devotion to
horseracing's most extraordinary contest which drew
Parri to Thoroughbred breeding in the first place. As
captain of the winning Istrice contrada in July 2002, he
has already achieved the ultimate success in the world
of the Palio and, with his family at his side, is well on
his way to making a similar mark within the more
regular racing world.
"In Tuscany, it's the tradition and, in Siena, everyone
knows something about horses," says Parri.
His son Giovanni, whose more fluent English means
that he looks after the international aspect of the
operation, takes up the story of his family's beginnings
in the Thoroughbred breeding sector.
"Dad started really with jump racing and with some
Hong Kong Group 1 winner Beauty Only
