WELLINGTON, FL., March 23, 2023—Dracarys and Rafool Polo will battle for the title in the eighth annual $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Rafool Polo (Ray Rafool, -1, Jack Whitman, 2, Henry Porter, 4, Felipe Viana, 7) advanced into the championship with an impressive 12-11 victory over Loudmouth (Andrew Siebert, 0, Scott Sorbaro, -1, Lerin Zubiaurre, 7, Kris Kampsen, 6), 12-11.
In the other semifinal, Dracarys (Chetan Krishna, -1, Leon Schwencke, 3, Facundo Obregon, 6, Brandon Phillips, 4) edged Casablanca (Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Juancito Bollini, 4, Wes Finalayson, 3), 12-11.
The date and time for the final is still to be determined.
On Thursday at windswept Grand Champions, Rafool Polo controlled the first four chukkers of the game, leading 4-1, 7-4, 8-6 and 10-7.
Loudmouth roared back with a 4-0 fifth chukker to overtake the lead, 11-10. Rafool Polo regained its momentum and clinched the win with two huge back-to-back goals by Viana, a last-minute lineup replacement for Salva Ulloa.
Viana, who won the tournament in 2021 with the Parrotheads, will finish out the tournament with Rafool Polo.
„We found out Ulloa wasn‘t available last evening so Henry and Jack convinced Felipe that it would be a good idea to play with us,“ Rafool said. „It was a lucky coincidence. I practiced with Felipe at the Arellanos two years ago so I was familiar with him. I was ecstatic to have him on our team.
„He did an amazing job with the guys. They really played quite well together. They had great chemistry. Felipe stepped into a management role and did a great job. The communication on the field was great. He was a wonderful addition and really made a difference.“
Viana scored the tying goal with 4:25 left in the sixth chukker and clinched the win with an incredible shot just past midfield. Viana tapped the ball once and then hammered it through the goal posts with 1:38 left in the game.
„Isn‘t this the best way,“ Rafool said. „You have no idea what‘s going to happen and then you are like wow, this is great.“
Porter and Whitman then went to work defensively with Porter winning the throw-in, Whitman stealing the ball and running down the clock and Porter clearing out a last-ditch goal attempt in the final seconds.
It will be Rafool Polo‘s first 12-goal final in the team‘s 12-goal tournament debut.
„It feels great to be in the final,“ Rafool said. „I didn‘t know what we were going to get and expect. It feels really good. I like our team. Henry did a great job in putting it together.
„I know Dracarys is a very good team team and have some really good skilled players,“ Rafool said. „They are a lot more balanced than the team we played today. I still think we have a good team and I think we can win. If we‘re not going to win I think we will be very competitive. At this point my team feels very confident. They were already strategizing today what they did right and wrong.“
Rafool, 56, started playing polo eight years ago. In his first polo lesson from a groom he was dressed in tennis sneakers and jeans at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, where he and his wife Vicki were chaperoning their daughter‘s senior high school trip.
„My wife thought I was nuts,“ Rafool said. „She still thinks I‘m nuts although she knows the game better than I do. She knows all the pros.
„I grew up in Central Florida doing Western-style,“ Rafool said. „I‘ve always loved horses. I saw Casa de Campo had equestrian and I thought why not, nobody knows me here if I look like a fool, no big deal. I saw the horses and they were beautiful. The rest is history. The next day I was so sore I could hardly squat to get into the plane to go home.“
Porter led Rafool Polo with four goals. Whitman and Viana each had three goals and Rafool added one. The team picked up one goal on handicap. Kampsen led Loudmouth with eight goals including five penalty conversions. Zubiaurre had three goals.
Loudmouth outshot Rafool Polo, 19-15. Rafool Polo led in knock-ins, 8-4, throw-ins, 14-10 and fouls, 14-9, with Loudmouth converting six of those penalties, five 30-yarders and one 40-yarder.
In the opening semifinal on Tuesday, Dracarys had control for the first four chukkers, leading 2-1, 4-1, 5-2 and 8-5. In the fifth chukker, Casablanca found its firepower for a 4-1 chukker, scoring four unanswered goals to go ahead, 9-8. Schwencke‘s goal with 21 seconds left tied the game at 9-9.
It was the closest Casablanca would get. Dracarys regained its composure in the final chukker and took advantage of Casablanca penalties with Obregon converting two 30-yard penalty shots. Dracarys had a two-goal cushion until the final 21 seconds when Bollini scored the final goal.
Phillips led Dracarys with five goals, Obregon had five, Krishna had two and Schwencke added one. Santos Bollini and Finlayson each had four goals for Casablanca. Ganzi had two goals and Juancito Bollini added one.
Dracarys outscored Casablanca, 16-14, and fouls, 14-6, with Casablanca converting four of those penalties, two 30-yarders, 1 40-yarder and 1 60-yarder. Casablanca led in throw-ins, 15-6, but couldn‘t capitalize, and also led in knock-ins, 4-3. Dracarys converted three 30-yard penalties.
The last tournament winner was the 2021 champion Parrotheads (Nachi Viana, Roni Duke, Jason Wates, Felipe Viana) who defeated Beverly Equestrian (Bill Ballhaus, Keko Magrini, Tolito Ocampo, Hilario Figueras), 12-8. Nachi Viana was MVP. The tournament was not held in 2022.
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, Polo School Ladies Weekly League play and 26-goal WPL tournaments at both Grand Champions and Santa Rita.
Remaining season highlights for 2023 are the John T. Oxley Memorial and $100,000 World Cup Tournament, a unique 0-40-goal, winner-take-all single-elimination tournament, WCT Finals and special events including Nic Roldan Sunset Polo and White Party, Great Futures Celebrity Polo, WPL Polo Pride and Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails.
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 $50,000 National 12 Goal Schedule
$50,000 National 12 Goal Final TBD
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
Grand Champions Polo Club (USA) is the last team to round out the 2023 POLO RIDER CUP and is joining Araucaria Polo Club (ARG), Rincón Polo José Ignacio (URU), Polo Club Mühlen (GER), Polo Schockemöhle (GER), Evviva Polo St. Moritz (SUI), Golden Greens Polo Club (IND), Polo Club Saint-Tropez (FRA), Amadeus Polo Club (ARG), Coronel Suárez Polo Club (ARG), Acquedotto Romano Polo Club (ITA) and Roma Polo Club (ITA) for the third edition that will be held from 14 to 24 June 2023 at the Polo Club Saint-Tropez – Haras de Gassin.
Grand Champions Polo Club will be taking part in the tournament for the first time with the following players:
Melissa Ganzi, Grand Champions Polo Club President, comments: “Grand Champions Polo Club is honored to be invited to participate in the prestigious POLO RIDER CUP 2023 and to be one of the twelve top clubs coming from around the world to compete in the „Club‘s World Cup“ of polo. As the largest polo club in the United States based in Wellington, Fla., we are very proud of what we have accomplished in our 16-year history. We host 6, 8, 12, 20 and 26-goal leagues, WCT finals, Kids Polo, Wheely Polo, Polo School Ladies League weekly games, The Polo School, Polo On Demand program and World Polo League, now in its fifth year and the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina.’’
Olivier Godallier, President & Founder of GAME POLO, comments: “It is a great honor and fantastic sporting news to welcome Grand Champions Polo Club to the POLO RIDER CUP. Grand Champions Polo Club, established in 2007 in Wellington, Florida, is a very important organization, well known internationally, with a fantastic location that offers the world polo community an outstanding Polo Club. Their main asset is American 8-goal player Nic Roldan. With the Ganzi family line-up, Melissa and Marc Ganzi and their son Grant, we wish them an excellent tournament for their POLO RIDER CUP debut.”
WELLINGTON, Fla., March 20, 2023—For the second consecutive World Polo League tournament, Kaia Polo is off to a great start.
Kaia Polo (Larry Austin, 0, Lerin Zubiaurre, 7, Santi Toccalino, 8, Jero del Carril, 8) improved to 2-0 with an impressive 15-12 victory over Globalport (Mikee Romero, 0, Polito Pieres, 10, Sapo Caset, 10, Anthony Garcia, 5) on Sunday in the feature game at Grand Champions Polo Club. Kaia Polo also defeated Richard Mille, 15-12, in its tournament opener.
Del Carril, a defensive standout, was named Most Valuable Player. Escriba Copada, played by Caset in the fifth chukker, was selected WPL Best Playing Pony.
„I don‘t really have words,“ Austin said. „To win against two of the most talented 10 goalers in the world is crazy.
„Everyone on the team played above their handicap. Jero was like a wall and his passes were incredible today. The field helped a lot. The grass was very smooth and fast, and it helped us to get an early advantage.“
Kaia Polo also had a 2-0 start in the Founders Cup. But it didn‘t get any easier going against two 10-goalers in a rollercoaster game that had Kaia Polo sitting pretty with a 6-1 lead in the first chukker and 7-3 lead in the second chukker before Globalport dug itself out of a hole and trailed 8-6 at the half.
With 1:42 left in the fourth chukker, Garcia scored off a perfect pass from Caset to tie the game at 9-9.
Kaia Polo settled back into its rotation and took advantage of Globalport penalties. Toccalino scored three goals including two penalty conversions to regain the lead, 12-10, going into the sixth chukker.
Globalport had its share of scoring opportunities but could get no closer than one goal after Caset converted a 30-yard penalty to trail 12-11. Kaia Polo came right back with Toccalino taking out a defender to enable Zubiarre to score and restore a two-goal cushion, 13-11.
Toccalino had a game-high nine goals. Zubiaurre had three goals and del Carril added one goal. Kaia Polo picked up two goals on handicap. Caset led Globalport with five goals. Pieres and Garcia each had three goals and Romero added one.
Kaia Polo led in shots on goal, 19-17, and throw-ins, 14-11. Globalport led in knock-ins, 6-5 and fouls 11-6, with Kaia Polo scoring off five of those penalties with three 30-yarders and two 60-yarders.
The Palm Beach Open continues Monday with a doubleheader. Santa Rita Trenque Lauquen plays Casablanca at 11 a.m. and Richard Mille takes on Dead End at 4 p.m.
In the early Sunday game, Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Jeta Castagnola, 10, Nic Roldan, 8, Freddie Mannix, 7) bounced back from its 13-10 loss to Casablanca (Scott Wood, 0, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Pipe Vercellino, 7, Miguel Novillo Astrada, 8) with a 13-11 victory over Brookshire. Audi is now 1-1 and Brookshire is 0-2 in bracket play.
After a sticky opening chukker, Audi came up big in the second chukker with a 5-1 advantage. Audi never trailed, leading 7-5 at the half, 9-8 after four and 12-10 after five.
Audi got balanced scoring from its lineup. Castagnola led with five goals, Ganzi had four goals and Roldan and Mannix, who bounced back quickly from a hand injury sustained in Audi‘s opener, had two goals. Vercellino led Brookshire with four goals, Pieres had three and Astrada had two. Brookshire picked up two goals on handicap.
Audi outshot Brookshire, 20-13, and dominated throw-ins, 16-8. Brookshire led knock-ins, 7-4.
The third World Polo League tournament features eight teams. This year, the Palm Beach Open is being played on the handicap since some teams are lower than 26 goals. The World Polo League, the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina, is in its fifth season.
Two World Polo League champions have already been crowned. Casablanca won the season-opening All-Star Challenge. Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Barto Castagnola, 10, Jesse Bray, 7) defeated 2021 champion Richard Mille (Gilberto Sayao, 0, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7), 14-9. Barto Castagnola was MVP.
Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Jeta Castagnola, 10, Nic Roldan, 8, Freddie Mannix, 7) defended its title and finished undefeated (5-0) in the Founders Cup with a thrilling 14-13 overtime victory over Richard Mille (Patricio Mayor, 0, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Lucas James, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10). Jeta Castagnola was MVP.
In last year‘s Palm Beach Open, one of the top 26-goal teams two decades ago, Catamount (Scott Devon, 1, Toro Ruiz, 7, Polito Pieres, 10, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8) knocked off Richard Mille (Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Juan Martin Nero, 10), 9-7 to win its first-ever WPL tournament title in a battle of unbeaten teams. Polito Pieres was MVP.
The world-class league will run through April 16. The remaining WPL events in addition to the Palm Beach Open are the Tommy Hitchcock Legacy Memorial, Triple Crown of Polo and Beach Polo World Cup Miami Beach.
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.
Season highlights for 2023 are the $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament, John T. Oxley Memorial and $100,000 World Cup Tournament, a unique 0-40-goal, winner-take-all single-elimination tournament and special events including Nic Roldan Sunset Polo and White Party, Great Futures Celebrity Polo, WPL Polo Pride and Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails.
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 Palm Beach Open Schedule
Monday 3/20
11am -Santa Rita/Trenque Lauquen vs Casablanca
4pm – Richard Mille vs Dead End
Wednesday 3/22
4pm – Richard Mille vs Globalport
Thursday 3/23
11am – Audi vs Santa Rita/Trenque Lauquen
4pm – Casablanca vs Brookshire
Friday 3/24
11am -Kaia Polo vs Dead End
Sunday 3/26
4pm – Final
GCPC Field 2
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
19 March 2023: The third tournament of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series concluded with two exciting matches on the grounds of Al Habtoor Polo Club.
Orbis – Mahra Polo began the match with a 1.5 goal advantage, and in the second chukker, Tomas Palacios brought their score up to 2.5. However, it was Khalid Bin Drai who finished off the second chukker with a hat trick of goals, resulting in a score of 4 – 2.5 in favor of Bin Drai Polo. The blue shirted players of Bin Drai team kept their lead in the penultimate chukker with 7 goals to 2.5, and by the end of the final chukker, Ali Al Merri and Segundo Amadori from Bin Drai Polo had taken Orbis – Mahra ahead of its competition, ultimately securing a victory for Bin Drai Polo with a score of 9 – 6.5.
Match Progression:
0 – 1.5 | 4 – 2.5 | 7 – 2.5 | 9 – 6.5
The final featured a match between Bangash – Bhansali Polo and Habtoor – Ankora Polo. Jose Riglos for Habtoor Ankora Polo opened the score with brilliant two back to back goals, not long after Tomas Iriarte from the opposing team responded with two penalty shots, ending the first chukker with only 0.5 advantage. The Habtoor – Ankora Polo dominated the first half of the game and maintained their lead with 0.5 goal advantage by the end of the penultimate chukker. However, it was the team in grey – Rishi Bhansali, Tomas Iriarte and two goals from Federico Von Potobsky who sealed the win for Bangash Bhansali at 11.5 goals to 8.
Match Progression:
2.5 – 2 | 4.5 – 6 | 7.5 – 8 | 11.5 – 8
Mr. Karim Adnan Maksoud, Managing Director of Al Habtoor Motors, awarded the teams of the Dubai Challenge Cup 2023. The Most Valuable Player was awarded to, Tomas Iriarte, and the Best Playing Pony was awarded to Camerera, ridden by Jose Riglos & owned by Mohammed Al Habtoor.
©Al Habtoor Polo Club
WELLINGTON, Fla., March 18, 2023—It was only fitting the World Polo League‘s newest teams would go down to the wire in their opening game of the Palm Beach Open.
Globalport (Mikee Romero, 0, Polito Pieres, 10, Sapo Caset, 10, Anthony Garcia, 5) rallied in the final two minutes for a thrilling 14-13 victory over Dead End (Evan White Jr., 1, Facu Llosa, 7, Magoo Laprida, 8, Pedro Falabella, 7) Friday at Grand Champions Polo Club.
The Palm Beach Open continues Sunday with a doubleheader. Audi plays Brookshire at 11 a.m. and Globalport meets Kaia Polo in the feature game at 4 p.m.
The lead changed hands eleven times before Caset scored the game-winner with 1:41 left on a 30-yard penalty conversion. Pieres picked up a loose ball and was fouled by Llosa setting up Caset‘s heroics. In the final minute, Caset and Pieres had two more scoring opportunities but couldn‘t finish.
Globalport needed the first chukker to find its rotation rhythm with Romero playing well at the front, Garcia playing defense and the two 10-goalers working the middle.
Trailing 3-1 after the opening chukker, Globalport tied the game at 4-4 on Caset‘s great run to goal with 3:41 left and went ahead, 5-4, on Pieres‘ rebound off Caset‘s missed attempt. Globalport outscored Dead End, 4-1, in the second chukker and found its rhythm, leading 7-6 at the half, tied 9-9 after four and regained the lead, 11-10, after five.
„We had some fun,“ Garcia said. „I thought the game went well. We let them come back. Those guys are super talented. It‘s to be expected. These guys are super rated players and everyone comes prepared. At this level, it‘s kind of like a coin toss, it can go any way. He who has the momentum at that specific moment when they ride it gets the advantage. It‘s nice to win the first one. I hope we win more but we‘ll take this one for sure. We‘ll take one step at a time.“
Romero and his longtime teammate and manager since 2010 are missing the Asian polo season (December-March) to compete in the 26-goal World Polo League and Grand Champions Polo Club for the first time.
Garcia is returning to Florida since 2001. He played for the 1998 FIP USA team in Santa Barbara with Carlucho Arellano, Andy Busch and Jeff Hall. Garcia, from Santa Barbara where he started playing at age 13, played throughout California and moved to Chicago in 2002. Garcia had played 26-goal in the late 1990s.
„I never thought I would come back to Florida because I play polo in the Philippines,“ Garcia said.
„We were talking and I said we should try it out,“ Garcia said. „We played around the world in England, Argentina and all over southeast Asia. In 2012 we played in St. Louis, Mo. and Chicago. The stars aligned and we went to Argentina to play the 22-goal. Mikee said maybe we can experience something better in the states and I said sure.“
Garcia and Romero built the team around Caset. Garcia has known Caset since he was 10-years-old and played with Pieres when he was rated 6 goals in 2004. Pieres is Caset‘s Argentine Open teammate and Garcia said the opportunity for them to play together on Globalport in the WPL came up.
„That‘s how we put the whole thing together to get over to Florida,“ Garcia said. „Grand Champions was quite interesting and Sapo said we might want to try it and see how it goes. Melissa and Marc have been such great hosts and everyone has been super phenomenal and friendly and very accepting of us and now we are here.
„What the WPL has that we quite enjoy is the camaraderie among the players. Everyone is so friendly. The group of pros that are here are the people you want to be around. The fields have been fantastic. Everyone involved with the WPL is treating us with open arms which we love.
„I think we are here to stay,“ Garcia said. „It will be mainstay for the next couple years that we are going to come. I think my sponsor Mr. Romero really enjoys it and it‘s been a long time coming. We have played polo together for 13 years and I am just glad I was able to convince him to take that step and come to North America and give it a shot.“
Romero got off a 32-hour flight 48 hours before his first game that was rescheduled Friday to make sure he was fully-rested for his opening game.
„Those are priceless gestures that a big organization makes for you that are greatly appreciated,“ Garcia said.
Dead End outshot Globalport, 20-17, but was unable to take advantage of key scoring opportunities. Globalport led in knock-ins, 8-3. Each team won 14 throw-ins. Dead End led in fouls, 8-6, with Globalport converting five of them with four 30-yards and one 60-yarder.
The game‘s 27-goal total tied the WPL record for most goals scored in a single game.
Caset led Globalport with a game-high seven goals. Pieres had five goals and Romero and Garcia each had one goal.
Llosa led Dead End with five goals, Laprida had four and White Jr. and Falabella each had one.
In the other two Friday games:
All-Star Challenge tournament champion Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Barto Castagnola, 10, Jesse Bray, 7) defeated Founders Cup champion Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Jeta Castagnola, 10, Nic Roldan, 8, Freddie Mannix, 7/Sugar Erskine, 6), 13-10.
In the opening game of the tripleheader, Santa Rita Trenque Lauquen (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Lucas James, 7, Juan Martin Zubia, 9, Juan Martin Nero, 10) edged Brookshire (Scott Wood, 0, Pipe Vercellino, 7, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Miguel Novillo AStrada, 8), 10-9.
The third World Polo League tournament features eight teams. This year, the Palm Beach Open is being played on the handicap since some teams are lower than 26 goals. Like the Founders Cup, the two-point shot from midfield is being instituted.
The World Polo League, 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.
Two World Polo League champions have already been crowned. Casablanca won the season-opening All-Star Challenge. Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Barto Castagnola, 10, Jesse Bray, 7) defeated 2021 champion Richard Mille (Gilberto Sayao, 0, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7), 14-9. Barto Castagnola was MVP.
Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Jeta Castagnola, 10, Nic Roldan, 8, Freddie Mannix, 7) defended its title and finished undefeated (5-0) in the Founders Cup with a thrilling 14-13 overtime victory over Richard Mille (Patricio Mayor, 0, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Lucas James, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10). Jeta Castagnola was MVP.
In last year‘s Palm Beach Open, one of the top 26-goal teams two decades ago, Catamount (Scott Devon, 1, Toro Ruiz, 7, Polito Pieres, 10, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 8) knocked off Richard Mille (Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Juan Martin Nero, 10), 9-7 to win its first-ever WPL tournament title in a battle of unbeaten teams. Polito Pieres was MVP.
The world-class league will run through April 16. The World Polo League is preserving the highest level of polo and its rich tradition in the U.S.
The remaining WPL events in addition to the Palm Beach Open are the Tommy Hitchcock Legacy Memorial, Triple Crown of Polo and Beach Polo World Cup Miami Beach.
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.
Season highlights for 2023 are the $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament, John T. Oxley Memorial and $100,000 World Cup Tournament, a unique 0-40-goal, winner-take-all single-elimination tournament and special events including Nic Roldan Sunset Polo and White Party, Great Futures Celebrity Polo, WPL Polo Pride and Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails.
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 Palm Beach Open Schedule
Sunday 3/19
11am – Audi vs Brookshire
4pm – Globalport vs Kaia Polo
Monday 3/20
11am -Santa Rita/Trenque Lauquen vs Casablanca
4pm – Richard Mille vs Dead End
Wednesday 3/22
4pm – Richard Mille vs Globalport
Thursday 3/23
11am – Audi vs Santa Rita/Trenque Lauquen
4pm – Casablanca vs Brookshire
Friday 3/24
11am -Kaia Polo vs Dead End
Sunday 3/26
4pm – Final
GCPC Field 2
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
Polo Schockemöhle (GER) is the first team to confirm its participation in the first Ladies POLO RIDER CUP that will be held from 14 to 18 June 2023 at the Polo Club Saint-Tropez – Haras de Gassin.
The Ladies tournament will take place with four teams playing with a handicap of 12/16 goals.
Polo Schockemöhle will be taking part in the tournament with the following players:
Vanessa Schockemöhle, Polo Schockemöhle, comments: “I am thrilled to be participating in the first Ladies POLO RIDER CUP and I am grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills alongside such talented athletes. As a passionate polo player, I have been looking forward to this event and can’t wait to compete at the highest level of women’s polo.”
Olivier Godallier, President & Founder of GAME POLO, comments: “GAME POLO is delighted to launch the first edition of the Ladies POLO RIDER CUP, and we welcome Polo Schockemöhle as the first team to join us. We are very happy that Polo Schockemöhle will be participating in both Saint-Tropez tournaments and wish them all the best.”
