March 7, 2023

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Kaia Polo Remains Undefeated In WPL Founders Cup; Sapo Caset Sweeps MVP, BPP Honors

7. March 2023

WELLINGTON, Fla., March 6, 2023—Kaia Polo, making its debut in the 26-goal World Polo League, remains undefeated in the Founders Cup.

Kaia Polo (Larry Austin, 0, Lerin Zubiaurre, 7, Sapo Caset, 10, Santi Toccalino, 8) led for most of the game to knock off Brookshire Polo (Scott Wood, 0, Pipe Vercellino, 7, Polito Pieres, 10, Jero del Carril, 8), 10-8, in the Sunday feature game at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Ten-goaler and playmaker Sapo Caset, also making his WPL debut, scored a team-high five goals and was named Most Valuable Player. His fifth chukker horse, Don Urbano Penalty, was selected WPL Best Playing Pony. „Sapo is such a great captain,“ Austin said.

Kaia Polo is now 2-0 after defeating Pampa Norte Biotricity, 14-13, and Brookshire, two seasoned teams with WPL experience.

„I‘m very happy with the chemistry of the team organized by Nick Manifold,“ said Austin, who named his team Kaia after his Rhodesian Ridgeback. His first polo team, Zuma Polo, was name after his first Rhodesian Ridegback. „They are fast, graceful animals with a gait similar to a horse so I thought it was very fitting for a polo team.“

The teams started off with a 1-1 opening chukker with Pieres, after Zubiaurre turned away his first goal attempt, converted a safety-60 for its only lead of the game, 1-0. Three minutes later, Toccalino scored to tie the game.

For the next five chukkers it was all Kaia Polo with its accurate shooting, opportunistic defense and selfless leadership of Caset, setting up goals for his teammates.

Kaia Polo led 4-2 after the second chukker and 5-3 at the half. The stats were close in the first half between the two well-balanced teams. Kaia Polo outshot Brookshire, 8-7; led in knock-ins, 4-3, throw-ins, 6-4; and fouls, 4-2. All three of Brookshire‘s goals were penalty conversions.

Kaia Polo, with great chemistry and anticipation, continued its momentum in the second half. Brookshire changed its rotation in the second half but was still unable to take advantage of its scoring opportunities.

Kaia Polo led 6-3 after the fourth chukker and led by as much as four (7-3, 9-5) and five goals (8-3, 9-4, 10-5) in the fifth chukker. Brookshire scored its first second-half goal with 4:57 left in the fifth when Vercellino took the throw-in and scored. Brookshire kept attacking in the final chukker outscoring Kaia Polo, 3-0, but it wasn‘t enough to beat the rookie team.

In addition to Caset‘s five goals, Zubiaurre and Toccalino each had two goals. There was also a pony goal.

Vercellino led Brookshire with a team-high five goals, including three penalty conversions. Pieres added two goals and del Carril had one.

In the final stats, Brookshire outshot Kaia Polo, 18-14, but Kaia Polo led in knock-ins, 10-4, and throw-ins, 10-9. Kaia Polo led in fouls, 9-6, with Brookshire scoring off three of those penalties from 30, 40 and 60 yards out in the first half.

In other games this past week: Richard Mille edged Brookshire, 9-8; Audi defeated Casablanca, 15-11; Casablanca topped Santa Rita Trenque Lauquen, 11-6; Audi defeated Travieso, 14-13; and Richard Mille nipped Pampa Norte Biotricity, 12-11.

The second World Polo League tournament features eight teams in bracket play.

The WPL, the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina, is in its fifth season with a star-studded lineup that features six 10-goalers including Pablo MacDonough, Barto Castagnola, Juan Martin Nero, Jeta Castagnola, Polito Pieres and Sapo Caset.

The popular WPL has been filling the void created when the U.S. Polo Association, the sport‘s governing body, announced it was lowering high goal polo to 18-22 goals and would not have 26-goal polo.

In the 2022 Founders Cup, Audi (Marc Ganzi, 2, Jeta Castagnola, 9, Barto Castagnola, 9, Paco de Narvaez, 6) defeated Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Gonzalito Pieres, 10, Juan Martin Zubia, 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8), 13-9. De Narvaez was MVP.

In addition to the Founders Cup, other WPL tournaments are the Palm Beach Open, Tommy Hitchcock Legacy Memorial, Triple Crown of Polo and Beach Polo World Cup Miami Beach. The world-class league runs through April 16.

Grand Champions, the nation‘s largest polo club celebrating its 16th anniversary, and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and short work arena. The club has 13 well-manicured fields including nine world-class fields at GCPC and four at Santa Rita.

During the winter polo season, Grand Champions, the nation‘s largest and most innovative USPA-sanctioned polo club, nestled in the heart of the world‘s winter equestrian capital, is hosting tournaments: 6, 8, 12, 20, and 26-goal leagues, WCT Finals, women‘s weekly league play and 26-goal WPL tournaments at both Grand Champions and Santa Rita.

Grand Champions tournaments attract a large international field of players from all corners of the world including Argentina, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, England, Germany, Uruguay, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Venezuela, Chile, and England.

Season highlights for 2023 are the Sieber Memorial, currently underway; $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament, John T. Oxley Memorial, WCT Finals and $100,000 World Cup Tournament, a unique 0-40-goal, winner-take-all single-elimination tournament and special events including World Polo League Polo Pride, Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails and Great Futures Polo Day featuring Celebrity Polo.

The winter season is being live-streamed locally and worldwide on Wellington-based ChukkerTV (CTV Sports).

Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its‘ expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its‘ Polo On Demand program.

The Polo School, now located at the former Pony Express facility, operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. The stand-alone USPA-sanctioned polo club, is thriving. It is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. November. The Polo School has nurtured several junior, men and women polo players now playing in the pro and amateur ranks since its inception.

For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Director of Operations Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or General Manager Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.

2023 World Polo League Founders Cup Schedule

Tuesday 3/7
11am Santa Rita Trenque Lauquen vs Audi
4pm Travieso vs Casablanca

Wednesday 3/8
11am Pampa Norte Biotricity vs Brookshire
2pm Kaia Polo vs Richard Mille

Friday 3/10
11am WPL Founders Cup Semifinal 1
4pm WPL Founders Cup Semifinal 2

Sunday 3/12
4pm – WPL Founders Cup Final

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira

WELLINGTON, Fla., March 6, 2023—Kaia Polo, making its debut in the 26-goal World Polo League, remains undefeated in the Founders Cup. Kaia Polo (Larry Austin, 0, Lerin Zubiaurre, 7, Sapo…

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U.S. OPEN WOMEN’S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP® PRESENTED BY EASTERN HAY BEGINS THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 10

7. March 2023

Together with Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida) and the National Polo Center – Wellington (Wellington, Florida), the United States Polo Association (USPA) will host the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® presented by Eastern Hay from Friday, March 10 through Sunday, March 19. The draw took place on Friday, March 3, to determine the schedule for the elite competition. The most prestigious women’s tournament in the United States, five competitive teams will vie for ultimate glory and $40,000 in prize money, with $30,000 going to the winning team and $10,000 going to the runner-up. In addition to the prize money, U.S. Polo Assn. will continue to encourage the spirit of philanthropy this winter season by providing $2,500 to both the winning team and the runner-up to donate to the polo charity of their choice.

The U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, formerly titled the U.S. Women’s Open, was established in 1937 by the United States Women’s Polo Association, the first and only women’s polo association in the history of American polo. A pioneering effort, the competition and the Association unfortunately dissolved just two years later when World War II began. Women were officially welcomed into the USPA in 1972, with Sue Sally Hale becoming one of the first woman members. On the USPA’s centennial anniversary in 1990, a U.S. Women’s Open was officially sanctioned and held at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Appropriately, Hale along with her two daughters, Sunny and Stormie, captured the title with teammate Caroline Anier. It was officially recognized as a national tournament in 2011, and was hosted at Houston Polo Club (Houston, Texas) until it found a permanent home in South Florida in 2018.

This year, bracket games and semifinals will be played at Port Mayaca Polo Club (Okeechobee, Florida) and the final will be played at the National Polo Center – Wellington on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One. Raised to the 18- to 24-goal level for the first time in the tournament’s history, the play promises to be faster and more competitive than ever before.

The 2023 edition of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship will feature many familiar faces spanning five talented teams. Reigning victors Pamela Flanagan and 10-goaler Hazel Jackson, the 2022 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship’s Most Valuable Player, will team up once again under a new team name, La Fe. Their former teammate Mia Cambiaso will join Dundas alongside returning Dundas competitor, 10-goaler Nina Clarkin. Winifred Branscum, who looks to continue her steady rise following her victory in the 2022 National Youth Tournament Series (NYTS) Girls’ Championship, will make her U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship debut with La Fe. American 8-goaler Hope Arellano will round out the La Fe collective.

2022 runner-up Sophie Grant will unite with her older sister Maddie for BTA, along with KC Krueger and Sarah Wiseman, who combined forces to win the 2022 U.S. Open Women’s Handicap with QR Jets. Two U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship returning competitors, Kylie Sheehan and Izzy Parsons, will come together for San Saba, joined by 2021 competitor Dawn Jones and 6-goaler Lottie Lamacraft. Lamacraft will replace Gillian Johnston, who was originally set to compete for San Saba before sustaining an ankle injury prior to the start of the tournament.

El Cid Fitness will round-out the competition, with returning competitor Heather Souto aligning with USPA Governor-at-Large Cecelia Cochran.

Representing Team USPA are Active Members Hope Arellano and Sophie Grant and alumna Kylie Sheehan. Team USPA is a unique program that aims to develop and promote the sport of polo in the United States. The program identifies young and talented American players and provides them with guided training and playing opportunities, which eventually leads to the creation of a higher-rated pool of amateur and professional players who can contribute to the growth and success of the sport of polo.

The five teams competing are as follows:

El Cid Fitness (24) – Cecelia Cochran (5), Heather Souto (5), Fatima Balzano (6), Mili Sanchez (8)
BTA (23) – Sophie Grant (5), Maddie Grant (5), KC Krueger (6), Sarah Wiseman (7)
Dundas (24) – Sarah Siegel-Magness (1), Erica Gandomcar-Sachs (5), Mia Cambiaso (8), Nina Clarkin (10)
La Fe (24) – Winifred Branscum (1), Pamela Flanagan (5), Hope Arellano (8), Hazel Jackson (10)
San Saba (24) – Dawn Jones (5), Kylie Sheehan (5), Izzy Parsons (8), Lottie Lamacraft (6)

Schedule

Friday, March 10

10:00am ET: El Cid Fitness vs. Dundas

12:00pm ET: BTA vs. La Fe

Sunday, March 12

12:00pm ET: Dundas vs. San Saba

Tuesday, March 14
2:00pm ET: El Cid Fitness vs. La Fe

2:00pm ET: BTA vs. San Saba

Thursday, March 16

12:00pm ET: Semifinal #1

2:00pm ET: Semifinal #2

Sunday, March 19

3:00pm ET: Final

The tournament will use a 5-star format where each team will draw two teams to play against. Following bracket play, all teams will have played two games. Teams will be ranked 1-5 based on record. In the event of tied records, a shootout will be used as a tiebreaker. The top four ranked teams will advance to the semifinals.

For the semifinals, if possible, teams will play a team they have not yet faced in bracket play. Otherwise, semifinal pairings will be determined by a draw. Semifinal losers and the team ranked fifth will play a four chukker round-robin subsidiary. Semifinal winners will advance to the final.

Spectating from the NPC stadium, private boxes, fieldside tailgates and special hospitality tents all overlooking U.S. Polo Assn. Field One is an unparalleled experience available for the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship Final on Sunday, March 19 at 3:00pm ET. Tickets can be purchased at nationalpolocenter.com.

All games of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship will also be livestreamed exclusively by USPA Polo Network and available to watch on uspolo.org as well as across USPA social media channels, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch. Additionally, the final will be available on the ESPN family of brands. Check your local listings for times and channels.

Learn more about the teams competing and the competition at the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship Tournament Detail Page.

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Brookfield Farm Wins Halo Polo Trophy Thriller; Grant Ganzi Sweeps MVP, BPP Awards

7. March 2023

WELLINGTON, March 6, 2023—Brookfield Farm rallied in the final chukker to capture the Halo Polo Trophy Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm.

Brookfield Farm (Sophia Doble, -1, Facundo Frayssinet, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Alex Webb, 2) edged Santa Rita (Artemio Figueras, 0, Fran Spinacci, 0, Florencio Lanusse, -1, Pablo Spinacci, 4), 6-5.5.

Virginia-based Brookfield Farm finished the 6-goal league undefeated with a 4-0 record, defeating Polo School, 3-1, Orea Polo, 3-2 and Santa Rita, 7-5.5 in their first meeting.

Grant Ganzi, 24, swept Most Valuable Player after scoring five goals including the game-winner and Best Playing Pony honors for Ocasion.

After missing its first two goal attempts, Santa Rita controlled the game early and jumped out to a 3.5-0 lead early behind father and son duo Pablo and Fran Spinacci in the second chukker.

Brookfield Farm started clawing its way back slowly late in the second chukker taking advantage of Santa Rita penalties and Ganzi‘s two penalty conversions to trail, 3.5-2 going into the half.

„It took us too long to get going,“ Ganzi said. „I wanted to play the same way we played them the other day, but they had (substitute) Artemio, who is playing really well at the moment and changed the dynamic. We had to change the throw-ins a little bit, set plays had to change. We had to play a little more simple. We needed to be a little more consistent.“

Santa Rita maintained its leads, 3.5-3, 4.5-3, 4.5-4, 5.5-4 and 5.5-5 until the final minute of the game when Santa Rita fouled with 43 seconds left. Ganzi converted the 30-yard penalty to take the lead and clinch the win. Brookfield Farm then won the throw-in and ran out the final 30 seconds.

„Once we settled in and started playing the way we should have played we played well,“ Ganzi said. „It was a tough game. We were very lucky to win. It was tough to play this team twice in a row. They probably deserved to win more than we did today. The other day we played them a little better and fouled less.“

Ganzi has been honing his polo skills playing every level of polo including six goal this season. His Casablanca team won the 26-goal WPL season-opening tournament All-Star Challenge and currently competing in the Founders Cup.

„For me it‘s so different, I love both levels,“ Ganzi said. „I love being able to do both at the same time. The biggest difference for me is I play back and captaining the team in the 6-goal.

„In the 26, I am like a sponge. I am listening to everything I can hear. I am playing with three amazing guys and one of the best players in the world right now. The difference is the positioning on the field and the mentality. It‘s good to have that difference and play all levels of polo.“

In addition to Ganzi‘s five goals, Webb added a goal. Pablo Spinacci led Santa Rita with two goals. Figueras, Lanusse and Fran Spinacci each had one goal. The team picked up .5 on handicap.

In last year‘s final, Orea Polo (Petra Sobotova, -1, Finn Secunda, 0, Matias Busquet, 4/Jake Klentner, 1, Justin Daniels, 2) defeated Casimiro (Steve Cox, 0, Antonio Aguerre, 0, Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3), 7-2.

During the winter polo season, Grand Champions, the nation‘s largest and most innovative USPA-sanctioned polo club, nestled in the heart of the world‘s winter equestrian capital, is hosting tournaments: 6, 8, 12, 20, and 26-goal leagues, WCT Finals, Polo School Ladies League weekly play and 26-goal World Polo League tournaments at both Grand Champions and Santa Rita.

The biggest highlight of the season is the fifth season of the World Polo League currently underway with the Founders Cup. The nation‘s only 26-goal league features some of the world‘s top players including 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough and team sponsors.

The winter season is being live-streamed locally and worldwide on Wellington-based ChukkerTV (CTV Sports).

For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Director of Operations Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira