Triple Crown

Argentina Polo Open: the roof of the world

The Argentine Open, the last round of the Triple Crown, is the annual Holy Grail of polo, a kind of Aachen for the sport, in which the forty best players in the world take part, all but two of whom come from Argentina. In Palermo (the venue for this tournament in the heart of Buenos Aires), the legends of this sport have been written and made since 1893. The last and arguably greatest of all time is Adolfo Cambiaso, who at the age of 49 wants to win his 19th title (and 16th with his team La Dolfina) in 32 participations.

The final, which this year will be held on 7 December, will take place in front of almost 18,000 spectators. Apart from the sport, Palermo is THE annual meeting place for the polo world. Dozens of satellite tournaments are held around the city, particularly in Pilar, about 50 km from the capital, where there are no fewer than 500 polo fields. These tournaments are mainly held for the ‘bosses’, the rich enthusiasts from all continents on whom the sport‘s economy relies. Here they hire professional players for the next season, buy horses and equipment. Polo is an important economic factor for the country: more than three quarters of the saddlery produced worldwide comes from Argentina, which is famous for its leather, and 3,000-4,000 polo ponies are exported worldwide every year. Not to be forgotten is the clone business, which is booming after it has developed thanks to polo ponies, especially with the clones of the famous Cuartetera, which the atypical Argentine President Javier Milei, who obviously knows a lot about this sport, considers the best mare of all time… like her rider Adolfo Cambiaso. The two men met at the Casa Rosada last week, incidentally, and discussed the plan to make polo a national sport.

This year, Cambiaso will not defend the title won by his La Natividad nephews last year, but he is, of course, on his way to his twenty-seventh final since his debut at the age of 17. After thirteen years of ‘clásicos’ against Ellerstina, the clash with La Natividad seems to have become the inevitable final in the Open since 2021. But this year, two teams were on a roll, with La Hache (Hilario Ulloa) winning their first title by beating Ellerstina Yellow Rose (Gonzalo Pieres without his brothers but with the dreaded Sapo Caset) in the final of the Open de Tortugas, the second round of the Triple Crown. To qualify, Ellerstina Yellow Rose had beaten La Natividad, among others, who had just won the first round of the Triple Crown, the Hurlingham Open, against La Dolfina with just one goal. This means that nothing has been decided yet between these four teams and they will not face each other until the quarter-finals or, more likely, the semi-finals at the weekend of 29 November.

Family stories

In Argentina, polo is a family affair (and arguably also genetic). There was the incredible saga of the Heguy family: the fathers won the Argentine championship 20 times between 1958 and 1981, and their sons followed suit 10 times between 1991 and 2004. The probable final line-up includes a father and son, Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso (just as phenomenal as his father), handicap 10 at the age of 19 and 17, their cousins Barto and Jeta Castagnola, also handicap 10 at the same age, and the name Pieres in three different teams. Together, the Pieres brothers had defied La Dolfina between 2008 and 2012, where Facu, Gonzalito and Nico triumphed with their brother-in-law Mariano Aguerre. Then they played with their cousin Polito… But the team didn‘t really work… well, they‘d lost in the final. They were all handicap 10, but the team fell apart and Facu now plays with the defending champion La Natividad, Polito for La Hache, while Gonzalito is rebuilding a new Ellerstina. As for Nico, with the help of Delpharm‘s French general manager, Sébastien Aguettant, with whom he won last year‘s Open de France in Chantilly, he has built a team with the young talents of tomorrow, Lorenzo Chavanne (16) and Beltrán Laulhé (17), who were also seen winning in Chantilly. The La Zeta-Kazak team had to go through the qualifiers: mission accomplished, now it‘s a matter of staying in ‘Ligue 1’!

This start to the tournament has also allowed young talents to flourish or to be confirmed, such as Rufino Bensadon, also a regular on French courts, who has excelled in team 2 of La Dolfina (victory over Ellerstina in Tortugas and over La Ensenada in Palermo), Facundo Llosa, the husband of Hazel Jackson and a real discovery at La Aguada, or Tomas Panelo, who is often decisive for La Hache.

In short, an Abierto more exciting than ever, and we can‘t wait to be there… that will be next week!

These champions in France

Of the sixteen potential semi-finalists, eleven players have already played in France, in Chantilly and/or Deauville, which says a lot about the quality of the polo played at the Barnes Open de France or the Coupe d‘Or.

A fifth team can be considered as outsiders in Palermo: La Ensenada, who put up a great fight against La Natividad in the semi-finals last year, beating La Dolfina in Tortugas, albeit without Adolfo Cambiaso. Juan M. Zubía and Jeró del Carril also won in Chantilly.

Top 5 of the 10 teams in the running for the 131st Argentine Open

La Natividad: Jeta Castagnola (10), Facundo Pieres (10), Pablo Mac Donough (10) and Barto Castagnola (h) (10). Total handicap: 40

La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso (10), Pelon Stirling (10, Uruguay), Poroto Cambiaso (10) and Juan M. Nero (10). Total handicap: 40

Ellerstina UAE Yellow Rose: Sapo Caset (9), Lucas Monteverde Jr. (8), Gonzalito Pieres (9) and Nachi du Plessis (9, South Africa). Total handicap: 35

La Hache P.T.: Polito Pieres (9), Hilario Ulloa (9), Fran Elizalde and Tomás Panelo (9). Total handicap: 36

La Ensenada Dietrich: Juan Britos (9), Alfredo Bigatti (9), Juan M. Zubía (9) and Jeró del Carril (9). Total handicap: 36

Text by Pascal Renauldon/R&B Presse

Argentine Polo Association partners with Global Polo Entertainment to exclusively commercialize the 2021 Triple Crown in the United States and Canada 

Global Polo TV to exclusively offer the Argentine Triple Crown of Polo to viewers in the United States and Canada, and to promote the Triple Crown to fans around the world. 

Buenos Aires, West Palm Beach – 18 August 2021: Global Polo TV (GPTV), the leading international polo network and subsidiary of USPA Global Licensing, has announced a new partnership with the Argentine Polo Association that gives GPTV exclusive rights to offer the 2021 Triple Crown to viewers in the United States and Canada. GPTV will also promote Triple Crown to its viewers around the world. 

GPTV will promote the 2021 Triple Crown from August to December with each event consisting of elite polo players from around the world competing in the Tortugas Country Club Open (9/26 to 10/10), Hurlingham Club Open (10/27 to 11/13) and Argentine Polo Open Championship (11/14 to 12/11). Also, the Women Argentine Polo Open and the rest of the High Polo Season in Argentina (The Municipalidad de Pilar Cup, The Camara de Diputados Tournament and The Qualifiers to Palermo). The Triple Crown will also be featured in the monthly World of Polo series presented by U.S. Polo Assn. produced and distributed by GPTV. 

Fans of polo can gain access to exclusive live Spanish and English language coverage as well as hundreds of hours of historical content from the Triple Crown offered by Global Polo TV. This includes The World of Polo, Inside the Boards and Best of the Week content series as well as extensive programme archives in The Vault all offered for free on Global Polo TV, globalpolo.com. 

This is the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership that will mark the expansion of coverage of polo from these two leading Associations to fans around the world. 

J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global Licensing said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Argentine Polo Association to expand the coverage of these prestigious events to our GPTV subscribers and to other global markets through the World of Polo Series. This initiative is the foundation of a long-term partnership between the leading polo markets in the world.” 

Commenting on behalf of Argentine Polo Association, CEO, Lucas Adur added: “We know just how passionate the polo audience is and we’re looking forward to bringing this great event to our viewers in North America and around the world. We believe in long term relationships, and this is the beginning of a new era for great content, cutting-edge technology and new ways for fan engagement.” 

 

About Argentine Polo Association is the main Polo organization in Argentina, representing all the Polo Clubs in the country. The AAP was created in 1922 after the fusion of the River Plate Polo Association and the National Polo Federation. Its main objectives are the polo industry and the club’s development. The AAP owns and organizes the Argentine Triple Polo Crown, which are considered the three most important professional polo tournaments in the world. Visit AAP. Lucas Adur – CEO – E-mail: lucas.adur@aapolo.com 

 

About USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL) is the for-profit subsidiary of the USPA and its exclusive worldwide licensor. USPAGL manages the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand and is the steward of the USPA’s intellectual properties, providing the sport with a long-term source of revenue. Through its subsidiary, Global Polo Entertainment (GPE), USPAGL also manages Global Polo TV and produces global broadcasts that bring greater awareness to the sport of polo. Visit Global Polo TV 

Shannon Stilson – Assistant Vice President of Marketing, USPA Global Licensing Phone +1.561.227.6994 ─ E-mail: sstilson@uspagl.com 

October 23, 2020, Argentina – Following a long wait, it is expected the start of the 2020 Triple Crown in Argentina, and the first leg of the most coveted polo trophy worldwide, the Tortugas Open, due to be played on the grounds of the Argentine Polo Association, set in Pilar.

In such a challenging year, Ernesto Gutiérrez’s La Ensenada and the Novillo Astrada’s La Aguada joined forces to form a new team named La Ensenada La Aguada, which will be provided with the strong support of two of the most important organisations within polo. 

The 29-goal lineup, that’s due to make their debut against La Dolfina, will be comprised by Segundo Bocchino (6), Alfredo Bigatti (8), Matias Torres Zavaleta (8) and Jerónimo del Carril (7). Ignacio “Nachi” Heguy has been named as the coach of the team. Nachi is a former 10-goaler, won the Argentine Open four times with Indios Chapaleufu II and is a member of the legendary Heguy family, the son of Alberto Pedro Heguy, who claimed the Argentine Open 17 times with Coronel Suarez.

Up next, La Ensenada La Aguada will be playing the Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Polo Open Championship. 

La Ensenada La Aguada will be supported by several sponsors. Grupo Rusoniello, Río Uruguay Seguros, Clonargen Genetics and Cifftone are the main sponsors, while La Taquera and ONA Polo will remain as technical sponsors.

For the third consecutive year, La Ensenada will be playing the tournaments of the Triple Crown in Argentina. And this year, La Ensenada will be honoured to have La Agauda’s support and organisation, based in the motto – “excellency to aim at a better and sustainable polo” and, as usual, hand-in-hand with the youngest. Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo await them – a future of quality and passion for international polo.

The Novillo Astradas are one of the most traditional and important families within the polo community, with more than 60 years in the polo grounds, both in Argentina and around the world. La Aguada is today one of the most prestigious polo clubs worldwide, a place that holds polo for all tastes and levels. The club was founded in 1959 in Río Cuarto, set in the Province of Córdoba, by Mr. Julio Novillo Astrada, nicknamed “Iaio”, a renowned horsebreeder as well as 5-goaler polo player. La Aguada have three generations of high goal players and a fourth generation is already coming up, through Iaio’s great granchildren.

La Aguada played the Triple Crown for the first time ever during the 80s, led by Eduardo (“Taio”), Iaio’s son, who reached 9-goaler status. With Taio abroad, La Aguada won their first ever title of the Triple Crown, the Hurlingham Open, in 1986. In 1990, Taio and his teenage sons, Eduardo Jr, Miguel and Javier claimed the Copa República Argentina, one of the highlights of the Autumn season in Argentina, and the only polo competition in the world with no handicap limit, which Iaio already won in 1946. This was the formal presentation of the family’s third generation within high goal polo in Argentina.

La Aguada biggest highlight came up in 2003, when the four brothers – Eduardo Jr, Miguel, Javier and Ignacio – won the Triple Crown, unbeaten after eleven matches. La Aguada is already in the history books of polo, not only because they are up-to-date the first and only team comprised by four brothers to have earned the biggest polo trophy in the world, but also by joining Coronel Suárez (1972, 1974, 1975, 1977), Santa Ana (1973), Ellerstina (1994, 2010) and La Dolfina (2013, 2014, 2015) in the selected few of those who obtained such achievement.

www.laaguadapolo.com

Team La Dolfina Sancor Seguros remains undefeated this year as well. With the victory over Ellerstina Johor, La Dolfina has continued its winning streak at the 126th HSBC Argentine Open and has been at the top of the podium for seven consecutive years.

After 32 undefeated matches, La Dolfina Sancor Seguros have also taken the lead in Saturday’s 126th Argentine Open final with a clear 16-12 against Ellerstina, winning the world’s most important polo tournament for the seventh year running, with ten teams with team handicaps between 28 and 40 goals and the most important players from Argentina, South Africa and Uruguay.

In a highly competitive match, Team La Dolfina, who had already won the Hurlingham Open, defeated Ellerstina Johor (winner of the Tortugas Open).

The outstanding performances of Adolfo Cambiaso, who scored 6 goals, and Pablo MacDonough, who scored another 5, earned La Dolfina the trophy, although her team-mate Juan M. Nero had to leave his place to Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade after a fall in the seventh Chukker.

Ellerstina could do little to withstand the attacks of La Dolfina. Facundo Pieres, scorer of 8 goals in the final, also failed to turn three penalties into goals.

In this way, La Dolfina’s Cañuelas won their 13th title in 19 appearances at the Palermo Open since the team’s inception in 2000. For Ellerstina it was the twelfth final in fifteen years. Since 2005, the team has only missed the final in 2006, 2013 and 2018 and won the Argentine Open three times in total.

Looking at the individual players, the balance is as follows: the four La Dolfina players have won a total of 44 Argentine Open titles to date – 16 Cambiaso, 10 Mac Donough and Nero, 8 Stirling. On Ellerstina’s side, Gonzalo and Facundo Pieres each won 3 titles, while his brother Nicolas won 1. “Polito” Pieres is the only one of the 8 finalists who has not yet made it onto the trophy.

After a speech by Eduardo Novillo Astrada, President of the AAP, the award ceremony began. Carlos Menéndez Behety, Rafael Cúneo Libarona, Federico Virasoro, Juan Lastra, Gonzalo Delger and Guilllermo Mones Ruiz, Global Markets Director at HSBC, as well as Martín Pérez Ibañez and Bob Jornayvaz presented the awards.

After Maxi Funes, Relations Manager of AAP, was awarded for 25 years of AAP work, Pablo Mac Donough received the Gonzalo Heguy Trophy from Jesús Heguy as the best player of the final. The Javier Novillo Astrada Trophy was presented to the tournament’s record scorer, Adolfo Cambiaso, who scored a total of 39 goals at the 126th Palermo Open.

In the final of the 3rd Abierto Argentino de Polo Femenino Team Overo Z7 UAE defeated the opponents of La Dolfina Brava and won the Women’s Open presented by La Roche Posay. Team Overo Z7 UAE with Clara Cassino (7), Millie Hine (4), Hazel Jackson-Gaona (10) and Lía Salvo (9) defeated the defending champions La Dolfina Brava with 10 to 5 and won the coveted title for the first time since the founding of Abierto Femenino in 2017. Led by Lía Salvo, who became the tournament’s best player and scorer for the third year running, El Overo Z7 UAE scored the victory they had hoped for.

 

Current Ranking of the 126. HSBC Argentine Open

1)      La Dolfina                  900 (5 PJ) (5 PG) (0 PP)
2)      Ellerstina                    750 (5 PJ) (4 PG) (1 PP)
3)      La Dolfina PR            450 (4 PJ) (3 PG) (1 PP)
4)      Las Monjitas              450 (4 PJ) (3 PG) (1 PP)
5)      La Natividad              300 (4 PJ) (2 PG) (2 PP)
6)      La Albertina               150 (4 PJ) (1 PG) (3 PP)
7)      La Aguada                   150 (4 PJ) (1 PG) (3 PP)
8)      La Ensenada              150 (4 PJ) (1 PG) (3 PP)
9)      La Irenita                    150 (4 PJ) (1 PG) (3 PP)
10)    Cría Yatay                       0 (4 PJ) (0 PG) (4PP)

 

Photos: Nacho Corbalán

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”1009″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]Photos: POLO+10 / Thomas Wirth

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”1008″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]

© Thomas Wirth

La Dolfina has qualified for the final of the 126th HSBC Argentine Open in the 100th game with the current team line-up in the Triple Crown on Saturday, December 14th. Yesterday, Ellerstina Johor was the second finalist in the coveted final round at the world-famous Campo Argentino de Polo field 1 in Palermo after winning against Las Monjitas.

The Campo Argentino de Polo, the “cathedral” of international polo, hosted the twelfth matchday of the 126th HSBC Argentine Polo Open yesterday. The two teams, who will compete against each other again in the final on 14 December, have been determined. The Argentine Polo Open is the world’s most important polo tournament. 10 teams with a team handicap of 28 to 40 goals take part in the competition. Polo fans from all over the world take part in the games every year.

In a fiercely contested match Ellerstina Johor yesterday returned the favour with 11 – 10 goals to last year’s winner of her own group, Las Monjitas, and thus secured her place in this year’s Volkswagen Cup finale. For Ellerstina Johor it is the 12th final of the Argentine Open in the last fifteen years (since 2005 the team only missed the final in 2006, 2013 and 2018). As in the previous 11 final entries (3 victories and 8 defeats), their opponent in 2019 will again be La Dolfina Sancor Seguros. The eagerly awaited final against the tournament’s six-time defending champion, La Dolfina Sancor Seguros, will take place next Saturday, 14 December.

La Dolfina Sancor Seguros had already secured his place in the final on Saturday, 7 December, with a superior 15 – 6 win against La Dolfina Polo Ranch. Besides the place in the final, the team of La Dolfina Sancor Seguros, which played all 31 games in Palermo so far unbeaten, won the Imperial Cup, which was presented by Diego Gonzalez Puig, Brand Manager of the Imperial Brewery. La Dolfina is now preparing to play the 19th final since the team was founded in 2000 (12 victories and 6 defeats at the Argentine Open so far).

 

TEAMS:

Ellerstina Johor (+39)
Facundo Pieres (+10) 
Gonzalo Pieres (+9)
Pablo Pieres (+10) 
Nicolás Pieres (+10)

La Dolfina Sancor Seguros (+40)
Adolfo Cambiaso (+10)
David Stirling (+10) 
Pablo Mac Donough (+10) 
Juan M. Nero (+10)

 

Current Ranking of the 126. HSBC Argentine Open

1)      La Dolfina                  750 (4 PJ) (70 GF)
2)      Ellerstina                    750 (4 PJ) (53 GF)
3)      LD Polo Ranch          450 (4 PJ) (55 GF)
4)      Las Monjitas              450 (4 PJ) (54 GF)
5)      La Natividad              300 (4 PJ) (44 GF)
6)      La Albertina               150 (4 PJ) (44 GF) 
7)      La Aguada                   150 (4 PJ) (43 GF)
8)      La Ensenada              150 (4 PJ) (39 GF)
9)      La Irenita                    150 (4 PJ) (36 GF)
10)    Cría Yatay                       0 (4 PJ) (42 GF) 

 

Photos: POLO+10 / Thomas Wirth

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”1008″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]

© Thomas Wirth

Las Monjitas took a 11-9 win over El Milagro, and captured the  XVI Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, presented by Río Uruguay Seguros, following the championship match that took place at La Aguada Polo Club, in Open Door, Argentina, on Tuesday November 19.

Therefore, Camilo Bautista’s foursome won the trophy for the fourth time, as they did in  2013, 2014 and 2017. Two of the members of the winning team – Facundo Sola and Guillermo Caset Jr – are currently playing the Triple Crown in Argentina with the orange jerseys. The lineup was completed with Matt Coppola.

Following two consecutive ties, Las Monjitas commanded the two next chukkas. Although El Milagro leveled at 8-all at the start of the fifth chukka, Las Monjitas wasted no time at all to re-take the lead through Facundo Sola, until El Milagro’s Santiago Solari produced a spectacular goal in the last seconds within the fifth chukka to tie at 9-all. But in the last chukka of play, Facundo Sola and Guillermo Caset Jr., managed to score one goal apiece to seal the win for Las Monjitas, that allowed them to claim La Aguada Polo Club’s premier competition for the fourth time (Score Las Monjitas: 2-2, 4-4, 7-5, 8-7, 9-9, 11-9).

The awards presentation was as follows:

• MVP: Shared by Guillermo Caset Jr and Federico Tomasevich
• Skeeter JohnstonFair Play Award: Francisco Irastorza
• Best mounted player: Santiago Solari
• BPP presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.: Dolfi Educada (Guillermo Caset Jr)
• River Slaney BPP Award: Sunny (owned by Las Monjitas, ridden by Guillermo Caset Jr)

Meanwhile, the fourth place went to Power Infraestructure who beat Los Cocos by a close 10-9, and La Mancha Dutta Corp earned the third place after defeating Lovelocks Polo Stud by a 12-5 score.

The XVI Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, presented by Río Uruguay Seguros, had a fantastic closing party, that included an exquisite asado and other delicacies, in a lovely friendly entourage, with everybody enjoying the hospitality and warmth of the Novillo Astrada family.

Special thanks to all the participating players and teams; to our sponsors, for the constant support; to the media, for the distribution of the news; and to all who came thoroghout the tournament. To each and everyone of you, thank you! We are very much looking forward to seeing you all next year!

 

XVI JULIO NOVILLO ASTRADA CUP, PRESENTED BY RIO URUGUAY SEGUROS – PARTICIPATING TEAMS

League A
Los Cocos: Rafael Zubillaga 0, Alfredo Bigatti 8, Miguel Novillo Astrada 8, Tomás Lalor 6. Total: 22

El Milagro: Federico Tomasevich 1, Santiago Solari 6, Francisco Irastorza 6, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total: 22

Power Infraestructure: Miguel Mendoza 1, Lerin Zubiaurre 8, Alejandro Muzzio 8, Jorge Fernández Ocampo 5. Total: 22

League B
Las Monjitas: Camilo Bautista 0, Matt Coppoloa 3, Facundo Sola 9, Guillermo Caset (h) 10, Matías Fernández Llanos 6. Total: 22

La Mancha Dutta Corp: Timmy Dutta 3, Lucas Díaz Alberdi 7, Mariano Obregón 6, Facundo Obregón 6. Total: 22

Lovelocks Polo Stud: Tommy Severn 3, Charlie Hanbury 6, Matt Perry 6, James Beim 7. Total: 22

 

XVI JULIO NOVILLO ASTRADA CUP, PRESENTED BY RIO URUGUAY SEGUROS – FIXTURE

Thursday November 7
Lovelocks Polo Stud 12 vs. Power Infraestructure 7

Friday November 8
Las Monjitas 10 vs. Los Cocos 7

Saturday November 9
El Milagro 12 vs. La Mancha Dutta Corp 10

Monday November 11
La Mancha Dutta Corp 10 vs. Los Cocos 6

Tuesday November 12
Las Monjitas 9 vs. Power Infraestructure 6
El Milagro 12 vs. Lovelocks Polo Stud 10

Thursday November 14
Lovelocks Polo Stud 9 vs Los Cocos 6
La Mancha / Dutta Corp 11 vs Power Infraestructure 9

Friday November 15
Las Monjitas 10 vs. El Millagro 9 (OT)

Tuesday November 19 – FINALS
Subsidiary I
Power Infraestructure 10 vs. Los Cocos 9

Subsidiary II
La Mancha Dutta Corp 12 vs. Lovelocks Polo Stud 5

Final XVI Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, presented by Río Uruguay Seguros
Las Monjitas 11 vs. El Milagro 9

 

www.laaguadapolo.com

 

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”1006″ display=”basic_thumbnail”] 

© Thomas Wirth

In a wet, wild finish Colorado held off Audi for a thrilling 9-8 victory to capture the World Polo League’s Triple Crown of Polo Sunday at rain-soaked Grand Champions Polo Club. 

After two rain delays in the two hour,  20-minute season finale, Colorado joins Valiente, Grand Champions and SD Farms among the inaugural 26-goal league’s tournament champions. Colorado (Rob Jornayvaz, 2, Juan Martin Zubia, 7, Jero Del Carril, 7, Adolfo Cambiaso, 10) finished the eight-team tournament undefeated at 5-0 and won $90,000 in prize money. Audi (Marc Ganzi, 2, Nic Roldan, 8, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Kris Kampsen, 6) dropped to 4-1. Both teams were making their second tournament final appearance.

Cambiaso, a field general for his three young teammates including 19-year-old Zubia, was the game and tournament Most Valuable Player. His horse, Gaita, was Grand Champions Best Playing Pony. Ganzi was awarded the Catena Play of the Day. “This was a great way to end the season,” Cambiaso said. “It’s always nice to win. I think we deserved to win.”

The start of the game was delayed 40 minutes and again with 3:51 left in the game because of heavy rain. “It was a super tough game,” Jornayvaz said. “We weren’t sure at the beginning if we were even going to be able to play. It was a battle from the beginning. It’s always awesome to have Adolfo on your team because he is always good in those clutch moments.”

With Colorado leading 9-3 at the start of the fifth chukker, Audi caught on fire, found its system and controlled the momentum in the rain. Audi rallied to score five unanswered goals in the fifth and sixth chukkers but came up short. “We thought it was all over,” said World Polo League guest commentator Pelon Stirling after Audi’s remarkable comeback. 

“You want drama, you got it,” added play-by-play announcer Gus Whitelaw. “To ask for better polo than this would be greedy. The crowd is sticking around for this one, rain and all.” Heavy rain forced another delay at 3:51. Juan Olivera of Grand Champions, Robertito Zedda of Valiente and WCT Commissioner Dale Smicklas walked the entire field to make sure it was still playable and safe. The field held up well thanks to the tireless work of the Grand Champions field crew throughout the season.

Rodiseo, played by MacDonough, was named American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony of the game. Pizza, also played by MacDonough, was the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony of the tournament.

Colorado players names will now be inscribed on the trophy and added to an impressive list of teams that feature several top players including Sebastian Merlos, Mike Azzaro, Tommy Biddle, Adam Snow, Nic Roldan, Matias Magrini, Jeff Hall, Mariano Gonzalez, Michel Dorignac and Kris Kampsen.

Co-founded by Grand Champions owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi and Valiente Polo Farm owner Bob Jornayvaz, the successful World Polo League is the only 26-goal polo in the world outside of Argentina. The WPL is preserving the highest level of polo and its rich, hallowed tradition in the U.S.

By Sharon Robb

www.gcpolo.com

 

Valiente defends title at the USPA Gold Cup against Flexjet with 12-11. Driven by an ambitious desire to sweep the Triple Crown of Polo, powerhouse Valiente rode for the second consecutive year into the USPA Gold Cup® Final on Sunday, April 1, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Untouchable throughout tournament play, Valiente faced a strong offensive drive by Flexjet in their second matchup, but ultimately defended their title 12-11.

Claiming two immediate goals in the first, Facundo Pieres set the pace for a fast, competitive final. As the first half progressed, both teams relentlessly traded goals back and forth, Flexjet strategically taking every available opportunity to intercept the ball and capitalize from the penalty line. Demonstrating excellent control, Adolfo Cambiaso propelled the ball downfield, expertly weaving it between Flexjet’s defenders to pick up his first goal in the second. Staying in position and making key plays happen, Valiente’s optimal teamwork secured two additional goals, keeping them ahead by two at the end of the second. “I was mainly playing back on Flexjet’s hit-ins and trying to push forward on our plays,” Tommy Beresford revealed. “I tried to make space for Adolfo and Facundo and since those two are the best they can usually pull through with that.” Missing several opportunities to score, Flexjet allowed Cambiaso to get on another breakaway to goal, doubling the scoreboard. Just before Facundo Pieres could score another goal, Rodrigo De Andrade managed to steal the ball and move it downfield, ending the half 6-3 in favor of Valiente.

Benefiting from gaining possession from the initial throw-in at the start of the fourth, Flexjet’s De Andrade made an effective team play with Nico Pieres for a fast field goal. As both teams began to play a more open style of polo, the goals also began to stack up with increasing speed. Valiente acted quickly in retaliation with a goal each by Cambiaso and Beresford, preventing Flexjet from making up any ground and maintaining a three-goal lead. Explosive in the fifth, Nico Pieres played his strongest chukker yet, hitting a giant neckshot to goal and converting a Penalty 4 and 6 in an effort to derail Valiente in the second half. Consistent throughout, Valiente anticipated the plays and followed through with their team strategy, using Beresford to protect Facundo Pieres and allowing him to have the open shots to goal.

Valiente still in the lead 11-9 as the final chukker began, Cambiaso grabbed his fifth goal of the game, determined to prevent another uprising from Flexjet. Charging up and down the field, De Andrade finally managed to score two consecutive goals bringing his team within one, but the 30-second horn ended Flexjet’s final drive. Valiente claimed their second consecutive USPA Gold Cup® with a final score of 12-11.

Responsible for seven out of 11 goals, five from the penalty line and two from the field, Nico Pieres was named Most Valuable Player. Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to Macarena, a grey mare owned by Mariano Gonzalez and played by Adolfo Cambiaso in the third chukker. “Macarena is an amazing, fantastic horse that can run as long as I need her to,” Cambiaso said. “She will rest for a bit now then go to Argentina to play the Argentine Open with me.”

Looking forward to participating in the prestigious U.S. Open Polo Championship®, Bob Jornayvaz recognizes the steep competition Valiente will have to face in the final 26-goal tournament of the season. “Now the hard work begins, we can’t lose focus so we need to stay healthy and keep the horses healthy” Jornayvaz said. “You have to go out on the field with a game plan, execute it, and stay disciplined. Flexjet came within one goal and that’s when we need to fall back on our game plan because that’s what a good organization is all about.”

Valiente wins the C.V. Whitney Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Fresh off their recent win in the Ylvisaker Cup, defending C.V. Whitney Cup champions Valiente kept the momentum going, landing Colorado in the final Sunday, March 4, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Putting their new rosters to the test for the first 26-goal tournament of the season, both teams created fresh dynamics on the field, but Valiente rode away with their second consecutive tournament title 9-4.

Valiente’s unprecedented final featuring the two top 10-goalers in the world and rivals, Adolfo Cambiaso and Facundo Pieres, was a display of incredible skill and teamwork. Executing a beautiful 70-yard shot to goal quickly followed by a deep neckshot in the first chukker, Pieres unleashed a strong offensive force Colorado could not stop. Expertly setting up his forward, Adolfo Cambiaso worked the ball down field, leaving it for Rob Jornayvaz* who picked up the only goal of the second. As play progressed, Colorado experienced many missed opportunities throughout the game as players repeatedly were unable to connect and overrode, leaving the team scoreless in the first half. Taking full advantage of broken plays and costly mistakes, Cambiaso ended the half 5-0 in favor of Valiente.

Fighting to get his team in the game, Diego Cavanagh charged through the formidable blue jerseys to finally score two goals in the fourth effectively outscoring Valiente by one in the chukker. Cambiaso opened the fifth with a field goal, but was then answered by Cavanagh who hit a neckshot through traffic to goal. Completely in sync and dominating the field, Pieres and Cambiaso completed two additional plays to triple Colorado’s score 9-3 headed into the final chukker.

As precious minutes ticked by, the ball was passed back and forth across the field numerous times, finally crossing between Colorado’s goal posts and giving Magoo Laprida his first goal of the game. Despite a valiant effort in the last two chukkers, Colorado could not rival Valiente’s momentum. Valiente claimed their second consecutive 2018 C.V. Whitney Cup with a final score of 9-4. Reflecting on the tournament Tommy Beresford said, “The horses are getting fitter and I’m playing a little faster. It is becoming a bit easier as we are getting to know each other. We feel great and are looking forward to the next tournament.”

Responsible for five of Valiente’s nine goals, four from the field and one Penalty 3, Pieres was named Most Valuable Player. “Every game we are going to get a little bit better as a team,” Pieres said. “Today we were better with passing the ball between each other. Our last game was more difficult from the beginning and we had some pressure because it was our first together, but today was much better.” Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to Mentolada, owned by J5 Equestrian and ridden by Adolfo Cambiaso in the third chukker.

www.uspolo.org

Photo: David Lominska

MVP Facundo Pieres Valiente ©David Lominska

All articles loaded
No more articles to load

POLO+10 PLAYERS LIST

For players only: The biggest players data base in the world. Subscribe now and receive invitations to polo tournaments all over the world.
Subscribe to POLO+10 Newsletter
Newsletter Subscriptions *(Required)

POLO+10 REAL ESTATE

POLO+10 PUBLISHES YOUR TOURNAMENT MAGAZINE!

Would you like to have your own magazine for your tournament?

Feel free to contact us!
POLO+10 produces your tournament magazine.

Please write to
hello@poloplus10.com