EQUESTRIAN ARABIA n° 69 by EQUESTRIO magazine

No 69

March 2016 AED 20

RACING

PREVIEW OF THE DUBAI WORLD CUP

POLO

18 GOAL CHAMPIONS

MARCH 2016 AED 20

www.equestrio.com

E D I T O R ’S LETTER I

n the 10months since I touched down in Dubai, the team and I have been evolving Equestrio Arabia to embody the luxury lifestyle surrounding the world of polo and racing. I hope you’ve enjoyed our gentle redesign of this respected and much-loved title, our use of beautiful imagery to showcase the best equestrian events of the region and around the world; and our insightful interviews with some of the biggest names in the business. Our lifestyle elements continue in this March edition – our third issue of 2016 – with our inaugural photoshoot. A stunning portrayal of the ultimate polo lifestyle with quintessential brands like La Martina and Range Rover, our team shot 8 goal professional Alejandro Novillo Astrada in a story which promotes the integrity of the polo lifestyle. In the rest of our pages, we look excitedly towards The Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest race night. We’ll be setting our Longines watches – the official timekeepers of the event at Meydan – to make sure we’re dressed to the nines and ready for when California Chrome and his ‘racemates’ take to the track. On to polo and we have been kept super-busy. From The McLaren Silver Cup, to The Polo Masters, scarcely an afternoon has passed where we haven’t been trying to catch a chukka or two at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club or at the Al Habtoor’s new fantastic grounds. It’s been quite the season. We’ve also been test-driving horsepower of a different variety in Horsetorque; this issue we’ve been excited by the Aston Martin DB9 GT and reveling in the luxury of the Range Rover Autobiography. The team and I hope you enjoy this latest issue; a chance to drink in this fortunate lifestyle of inspiring players and jockeys and their noble equestrian partners. It’s a lifestyle we’re delighted to share with you.

Charley Larcombe Editor in Chief

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE... THE DUBAI WORLD CUP Who won the world’s richest race at Meydan? Equestrio Arabia will be in the paddock on the night for a full report.

March 2016

THE JULIUS BAER GOLD CUP The culmination of an exciting season will see who is crowned 18 goal champions in the UAE region.

BRITISH POLO DAY From an evening Gala in Abu Dhabi, to a quintessentially British afternoon not far from the deserts of Dubai.

CONTENTS 18

EFG DIARY

FEI NEWS

STABLE GOSSIP

30 LEAD INTERVIEW JOCKEY, OISIN MURPHY

30 36

March 2016

SPOTLIGHT THE MCLAREN CUP

POLO THE LONGINES VALENTINES CUP

POLO THE POLO MASTERS

PREVIEW THE DUBAI WORLD CUP

CONTENTS 58

SPOTLIGHT SUPER SATURDAY

64 RACING THE WHITE TURF

RACING A ROUND-UP OF THE UAE SEASON

INTERVIEW TRAINER, KIARAN MCLAUGHLIN

80 PORTFOLIO THIS POLO LIFE 90 BEHIND THE SCENES INSIGHT BEHIND OUR PHOTOSHOOT 92 INTERVIEW SHOW JUMPER, MEREDITH MICHAELS-BEERBAUM

76 80

March 2016

CONTENTS 94 LCM PUBLISHING LLC PO Box 50954, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 351 8380 Fax: +971 4 351 8390 E-mail: arabia@equestrio.com www.equestrio.com @EquestrioLive @equestriomagazine PUBLISHERS Michael Lahyani michael@swissmg.com Gerard Belicha gerard@swissmg.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Charley Larcombe charley@swissmg.com SENIOR EDITOR Rania Habib rania@swissmg.com DESIGN Senior Designer Kaha Abdisalam Designer Sonam Rastogi CONTRIBUTORS Laura King, Rosanna Lockwood, Neville Hopwood, Amir G’Nia, Hussain Jian & Andrew Watkins

ESCAPE VELAA, THE MALDIVES

HORSETORQUE THE ASTON MARTIN DB9 GT & THE RANGE ROVER AUTOBIOGRAPHY

104 EQUITIME RICHARD MILLE & JACOB & CO.

COVER PHOTO © Andrew Watkins ADVERTISING Managing Director Ladan Rahbary ladan@swissmg.com PRINTED BY Printwell Printing Press LLC While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

PUBLISHED BY

108 LUXURY SHOPPING 112 SPORTING TALK ENRICO ROSELLI OF LA MARTINA 14

March 2016

LCM Publishing LLC A MEMBER OF

facebook.com/EFGInternational

The private bank for polo

Proud sponsors of leading polo teams and events worldwide

Practitioners of the craft of private banking

EFG is the marketing name for EFG International and its subsidiaries. EFG Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global private banking network includes offices in Zurich, Geneva, London, Channel Islands, Luxembourg, Monaco, Madrid, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei, Miami, Nassau, Grand Cayman, BogotĂĄ and Montevideo. www.efginternational.com

DIARY

THE MASERATI DUBAI POLO CHALLENGE, DUBAI 4TH – 8TH APRIL

Guards Polo Club and Italian luxury car brand, Maserati are pairing up to present the inaugural Maserati Dubai Polo Cup at Al Albwardy’s Desert Palm Resort and Polo Club. This new 8-10 goal tournament will be played for over five days, culminating in a stylish Final for both players and guests and adding to the busy Dubai polo Calendar. www.guardspoloclub.com

THE DUBAI CUP, DUBAI 8TH – 15TH APRIL

The fast and furious pace of the 18 goal may be over, but the Al Habtoor team behind some of the UAE’s biggest tournaments will still be kept busy. The 8-10 goal handicap tournament will attract local patrons, players and the remaining international professionals for the last super-competitive grass polo tournament of the season. www.dubaigoldcup.com

March 2016

THE KENTUCKY OAKS, USA 6TH MAY

Raced the Friday before The Derby as part of the week-long Festival, The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I race for three-year-old fillies over 1,800metres around the Louisville track of Churchill Downs. The winner of the Longines supported race, gets a $600,000 purse plus an ostentatious floral garland known as the ‘Lillies for the Fillies’. Expect glorious hats and pretty fillies in and out of the paddock. www.kentuckyderby.com

THE KENTUCKY DERBY, USA 7TH MAY

The 142nd running of the $2million guaranteed Kentucky Derby isn’t just important to those connections within the industry; it’s of great social importance to anyone within several furlongs of Churchill Downs, the iconic home of the Derby. The official timekeeper, Longines, typically not only awards winning owners with beautiful timepieces, but also the best dressed on the day. However, the real headline makers are the thoroughbreds themselves who are currently working their way along the Road to the Kentucky derby, a series of 35 designated races at tracks around the US and the world. Follow now to keep your eye on America’s greatest race. www.kentuckyderby.com

March 2016

LEAD INTERVIEW

March 2016

OISIN MURPHY

A MAN GOING PLACES

LIFE AS A JOCKEY IS SELDOM BORING: YOU CAN BE ON TOP OF THE WORLD ONE MOMENT AND HURTLING BACK DOWN TOWARDS EARTH SOON AFTERWARDS. WHICH IS WHY, JUST A SHORT WHILE AFTER BRINGING HIS CONSIDERABLE SKILLS ON A BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY TO THE UAE, OISIN MURPHY FOUND HIMSELF IN PLASTER AND ON THE EASY LIST. WORDS: Laura King PHOTOGRAPHY: Shamella Hanley

urphy must be used to the ups and downs of the game, for scarcely has a jockey had such a rapid rise up the ranks. In 2013, a four-timer at the prestigious Ayr Gold Cup Festival in Scotland catapulted him into the limelight. A Champion Apprentice title soon followed, as did a season in the UAE riding as first jockey to Dhruba Selvaratnam at Jebel Ali Stables. It was to Dubai, then, that he returned when finding the cold all-weather circuit in the UK just all too much. Despite it being officially a holiday, he did far more than just soak up the sun, riding nine horses at Meydan and Al Ain. It very nearly paid off, as he finished second, beaten by a nose, on Godolphin’s Good Contact – the closest he would come to a winner that weekend. “I wanted to get out of England for a week and thankfully when I spoke to the guys at Godolphin they said they had a few rides for me,” said the 21-yearold, appearing his usual relaxed self in between rides at Al Ain. He may have left the UAE emptyhanded on this occasion, but the

Irishman, who rode 17 winners here last season, had been in fine form at home prior to the broken collarbone he suffered at Southwell. He also enjoyed a superb 2015, riding 91 winners in the UK – by far his best ever tally. At that time he was riding as second jockey to Qatar Racing, but will move to the number one spot when turf racing resumes in the UK in April. “It was pleasing,” he says of the past 12 months. “I was lucky enough to get on some nicer horses through Qatar and I won the Ebor for a small trainer called Joe Tuite, so things went OK. This year we’re going to have to build on it again. Obviously I’ve got better opportunities to come my way, hopefully, thanks to Andrea [Atzeni] moving back to Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid Al Maktoum [as retained jockey] and Sheikh Fahad promising to give me the first rides, so it’s exciting. We’ve got some better horses to look forward to and they’ve bought plenty of two-year-olds again so it would be nice if one of those came to the fore.” Of those, he singles out an exciting

three-year-old filly, La Rioja, who is two from three in her career so far for trainer Henry Candy. “La Rioja won her last run of the season by four lengths at Salisbury and it’s usually a nice trial, The Dick Poole Stakes. It’s a Group III and she should improve from two to three as she has a bit of size about her, but you never actually know until they go and do it,” he says of the Hellvelyn filly. He continues: “Goldmember’s obviously only had one run, but he shows plenty at home and there’s a chance he could be quite special, but he has to prove it on the track. Obviously of the ones people might know, Simple Verse has now won two Group Is, Strath Burn got beat by a nose in The Haydock Sprint Cup, and Pearl Secret, one of my old favourites, is still on the go, so we’ll have him to run in all of the big sprints and hopefully he’ll be good enough to nail one of them. He won a Group II last year and there isn’t many more years left in him – he’ll probably be a stallion soon so those sort of horses are to look forward to.”

March 2016

SPOTLIGHT

THE MCLAREN SILVER CUP, DUBAI POLO & EQUESTRIAN CLUB

CALL WITH TWO WELL-OILED ORGANISATIONS LIKE BIN DRAI AND ZEDAN IN THE FINAL OF THE MCLAREN SILVER CUP, YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN FOR A MATCH THAT’S HARD TO CALL. THE EQUESTRIO ARABIA TEAM WERE LEFT ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS. PHOTOGRAPHY: Neville Hopwood

he Dubai polo season is expanding at an incredible rate. New tournaments, new grounds and greater professional set-ups are all contributing to Dubai’s expanding presence on the global polo scene. With the 18 goal sanctioned by the Hurlingham Polo Association, even the existing tournaments are carrying greater weight in the international community. It makes for very exciting times. And the level of the polo is equally as exciting. As seen in the Final of this year’s McLaren Silver Cup. A flat-out two weeks of climatic matches saw the blue shirts of Saeed Bin Drai’s side and the bright white shirts of Amr Zedan’s team meet in the Final at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. After an exhilarating afternoon of edge-of-your-seat polo, finally Zedan were crowned champions of The McLaren Cup, defeating Bin Drai 10 goals to 9. Both teams proceeded to Final’s day after a clean sweep at the Semis. Zedan faced off against HH Sheikha Maitha’s UAE line-up and faced tough opposition with the latter side taking a 4-2 lead in the first chukka. Steely determination from 10 goaler Pablo MacDonough in particular, (who notched up eight goals in the game), saw Zedan secure their place in the Final by winning 12-8. Bin Drai’s route to the Finals was a little easier, meeting the pressure from the Wolves team early on and then

March 2016

POLO

March 2016

LONGINES VALENTINE’S DAY POLO CUP, DUBAI POLO & EQUESTRIAN CLUB

LOVE-ALLTO

BIN DRAI

BIN DRAI TAKE THE SPOILS AT THE LONGINES VALENTINE’S DAY POLO CUP AT DUBAI POLO & EQUESTRIAN CLUB. WORDS: Rosanna Lockwood PHOTOGRAPHY: Gonzalo Etcheverry-DPGC2016

olo is impossibly romantic. Beautiful horses, passionate athletes, stunning locations all combine to make it one of the most exhilarating sports for both those fortunate enough to play, and those enjoying a day on the sidelines. So it seemed fitting to celebrate Valentine’s Day two days early on the terrace and number one field at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. Red roses adorned the tables and sponsor and official timekeeper, Longines had their watches on display. Guests swarmed the terrace, and music and plenty of chatter filled the air for what proved a beautiful afternoon in the Dubai sunshine. The 6 goal tournament for the Valentine’s trophy had been played out throughout the week featuring a host of international names but also many local players. It proved a fine example of how local talent is developing – it can only mean exciting things for the future of UAE polo! The Finalists were whittled down to Dr. A – headed up by the colourful Dr Abbar – and a Bin Drai line-up; scarcely has

a Final passed by this season without the navy shirts of this team being present on the field. The first chukka was littered with fouls with umpires keeping eagle eyes on any infringements but meaning very start-and-stop play and little display of the professional players. However, Dr A’s Maxi Malacalza managed to break the run and claimed first blood of the match. However, within mere moments Bin Drai replied to even the scores. Dr A took the lead again when Malacalza converted a 60-yard penalty and he helped them retain that lead going in to the second when he blocked an attempt at goal by the blue’s Raja Abuljebain. Into the second and the game ramped up a little with both teams racing down the boards and to each other’s goals. Although neither found the posts in the early moments of the chukka, it was enjoyable open polo to spectate. Then once again, Malacalza setup his team’s third goal and fed it to his teammate Ariel Ponzi. Khalid Bin Drai replied with a quick goal, but Ponzi was on the attack and made sure their team were ahead going into half-time, 4 goals to 2. As the teams rode out for chukka three there was anticipation

March 2016

POLO

“

A huge, lofted shot, the ball flew up into the heavens but most importantly through the posts, making it undisputedly the goal of the game.”

that the Bin Drai quartet would get more into the game. And when a 40-yeard penalty was awarded and executed by the coolhand of Raul Laplacette, hopes were high… but were squashed when, most unusually, he missed! Whilst Bin Drai continued their

March 2016

attempts, Dr. A edged ahead by another goal taking their score to 5-2. Fortunately for Bin Drai supporters though, Laplacette more than made up for his earlier misdemeanour and found the posts to close the chukka 5-3.

The pressure was certainly on going into the last. Dr. A had very much controlled most of the Final, but Bin Drai’s speciality has been known to surprise the opposition at the last. Laplacette – in his distinct non-peaked hat – instantly jostled for position at the throw-in and spirited the ball away to goal. A huge, lofted shot, the ball flew up into the heavens but most importantly through the posts, making it undisputedly the goal of the game. Inspired, the Bin Drai team again bore down on the opposition, rapidly securing a fifth goal and equalising; leaving everything to play for. A series of excellent defence manoeuvres from Dr. A prevented the barrage from Bin Drai for a while, but soon enough the navy shirts found the glitch in their defence armour and pushed through for their sixth goal – and the first time they had enjoyed a lead for the entire match. Outwardly unfazed, Dr. A continued to battle for the trophy. Ariel Ponzi once again raced down the pitch in the closing moments. So close, they went for the shot but great defence from Rashid Bin Drai prevented a goal – and taking the game into overtime. The bell rang and Bin Drai celebrated their win, 6 goals to 5. Longines Regional Brand Manager, Patrick Aoun, assisted at the prize-giving, awarding the winning team with their own individual timepieces.

TEAMS:

Dr A Polo Dr. Abbar Stuart Wrigley Ariel Ponzi Maxi Malacalza

Bin Drai Rashid Bin Drai Khalid Bin Drai Raja Abuljebain Raul Laplacette

March 2016

PREVIEW

DUBAI WORLD CUP PREVIEW, MEYDAN, DUBAI

THE WORLD ARRIVES AS STARS SET TO

SHINE AT MEYDAN IT’S SIMPLY THE BEST SINGLE DAY OF RACING ON THE PLANET: NINE RACES, SIX OF THEM GROUP IS, AND MORE THAN $28MILLION ON OFFER, FOR HORSES, TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO STRIVE FOR. WORDS: Laura King PHOTOGRAPHY: Andrew Watkins

ince its launch in 1996, the Dubai World Cup meeting has had something a little different, which makes it stand out from the other huge international days of racing around the world. For a start, the Meydan meeting is the first stop on the global circuit, its marquee race is on dirt, not turf, and there’s that mixture of the East and West which isn’t seen anywhere else. Furthermore, Dubai attracts the Americans; something which Hong Kong, Japan, and the UK can only occasionally boast. So that’s the setting, but what of the horses who will grace the world’s richest race meeting on the final Saturday in March? Let’s start with the big one: the $10million Dubai World Cup, some of the main contenders for which are already in the desert.

March 2016

Frosted, Godolphin’s best older horse, has already proved his liking for Meydan after jetting in from his trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s American base to take the second round of the Maktoum Challenge in scintillating style. Then there’s California Chrome, America’s 2014 Horse Of The Year, who is also here early and will attempt to avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of Prince Bishop. Add to the mix Keen Ice, the only horse to beat Longines ‘World’s Best Horse’ American Pharoah last year, and Donn Handicap winner Mshawish, and you have a World Cup to savour. Meydan’s two Grade I turf races are usually just as exciting as the World Cup, and 2016 looks to be no exception. The $6million Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by luxury

“

…California Chrome, America’s 2014 Horse Of The Year… will attempt to avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of Prince Bishop.”

March 2016

RACING

March 2016

ST MORITZ, SWITZERLAND

FROZEN OUT AT ST.MORITZ WHEN RACING ON A SURFACE AS UNIQUE AS A FROZEN LAKE, THERE IS ALWAYS AN ELEMENT OF RISK, SO IT WAS A LATER START TO PROCEEDINGS THAN PLANNED FOR WHITE TURF 2016, DUE TO MELTING CONDITIONS. WORDS: Laura King PHOTOGRAPHY: swiss-image.ch/Andy Mettler

nseasonably mild temperatures led to the frozen lake at St. Moritz being deemed unsuitable for racing, which meant that the horses returned to their bases and the bubbly had to be placed on ice – for once something that there was a shortage of. Undeterred, the great and glamorous of European racing returned seven days later, on St. Valentine’s Day, when a 9000-strong crowd braved the cold. Thankfully, the track was deemed raceable, although the more dangerous Skijoring event could not take place. On the flat course, only the 800metre finishing straight was in use, which was to play havoc with field sizes; several trainers opting to keep their horses for another day. The opening event, The Wroclaw Capital of Culture Prize, was scheduled to be a hurdle race, but due to the track shortening it had to be run on the flat, a change which resulted in three non-runners, meaning that just five lined-up, of which Mateur came home the best for Fabian Xaver Weissmeier, beating Sword Of The Lord by half a length. A scheduled flat race, for four-year-olds was up next, in which Vale Of Iron, ridden by Scottish jockey Robert Havlin

March 2016

PORTFOLIO

March 2016

STYLE

THIS

POLO LIFE

8 GOAL PROFESSIONAL PLAYER, ALEJANDRO NOVILLO ASTRADA JOINS EQUESTRIO ARABIA FOR OUR INAUGURAL FASHION SHOOT FEATURING THE ULTIMATE POLO LIFESTYLE BRAND, LA MARTINA AND THE BEAUTIFUL RANGE ROVER AUTOBIOGRAPHY AT PER AQUUM DESERT PALM.

March 2016

PORTFOLIO

March 2016

PORTFOLIO

March 2016

PORTFOLIO

March 2016

PORTFOLIO

With special thanks to PER AQUUM Desert Palm & Alejandro Novillo Astrada CLOTHES THROUGHOUT: La Martina available at The Dubai Mall VEHICLE THROUGHOUT: Range Rover Autobiography 5.0 V8 Supercharged PHOTOGRAPHER: Hussain Jian STYLIST: Celia-Jane Ukwenya HAIR & MAKE-UP: Lauren Barker FILM: Amir G Nia MODEL: Alejandro Novillo Astrada

March 2016

PORTFOLIO

BEHIND THE SCENES

WE WERE LEFT DELIGHTED WITH THE RESULTS OF OUR INAUGURAL PHOTOSHOOT FEATURING LA MARTINA BRAND AMBASSADOR, ALEJANDRO NOVILLO ASTRADA AND THE ULTIMATE PITCH-SIDE CAR, THE RANGE ROVER AUTOBIOGRAPHY. A BRILLIANT TEAM HEADED UP BY PHOTOGRAPHER HUSSAIN JIAN PULLED TOGETHER A BEAUTIFUL STORY TO GIVE YOU INSIGHT INTO ‘THIS POLO LIFE’ AT PER AQUUM DESERT PALM.

PER AQUUM DESERT PALM The stage for your secret city escape: a canvas of green fields and meandering lanes in a lush 160-acre estate. Pink blossoms dance in the breeze beneath rustling palms. Avant-garde design signatures punctuate the landscape. Only 15 minutes from Dubai’s urban heart, find yourself in the lush serenity of PER AQUUM Desert Palm, where stately lawns and polo fields extend toward the city skyline. Retreat from the silver peaks and endless dunes to chic spaces for culinary refinement, spa indulgences and intimate getaways surrounded by manicured grounds. www.peraquum.com LA MARTINA La Martina’s new drive for style is the development of technology. It’s not really a revolution but rather an evolution that retains certain iconic elements and items that embody the identity of La Martina, which are must-haves and provide the inspiration for the new collection. The change of pace that caters to future generations who will be born and grow in an all-digital world, with no barriers of time and place, has triggered a series of changes that like pieces in a domino are reflected in new designer trends, developing the need for a fresh, contemporary and innovative interpretation of style. Stylistically the fusion of tradition and evolution has led to the creation of the new Banderas and Polo Player lines now added to the fashion house’s classic collection, which are more casual with vibrant and radiant colours, as well as the El Porteño with its smart casual cuts that elegantly combine natural, earthy colours. www.lamartina.com

RANGE ROVER AUTOBIOGRAPHY With its three classic lines of the lower accent graphic, roofline and continuous waistline, the Range Rover is unmistakable. The iconic silhouette is gently tapered and curved, while the use of near-flush glazing and gloss black pillars accentuates the floating roof enhancing its streamlined and elegant form. With an all-aluminium body and true Land Rover capability at its heart, the IT delivers incredible off-road performance with an impressive wading depth, raised air intake and classleading departure angles. Refinement is inherent in the Range Rover. It’s beautifully appointed interior is thoughtfully designed; the broad centre console puts essential controls within easy reach while clean surfaces and the use of soft supple leather, wood veneers and highly polished finishers help create contemporary, comfortable surroundings. To drive the Range Rover is to experience effortless elegance. From some of the most demanding and inhospitable terrains to negotiating rush hour city traffic, it delivers a relaxed, intuitive and rewarding drive. www.landrover-me.com

DOWNLOAD AND CHECK OUT THE EQUESTRIO ARABIA APP FOR AN EXCLUSIVE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO SHOT BY THE VERY TALENTED AMIR G’NIA.

March 2016

ESCAPE

VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND, THE MALDIVES

Paradise. Found. Looking for an escape to the ultimate in luxury and adventure? Velaa may easily be the answer. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been expecting you. WORDS: Charley Larcombe PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Velaa Private Island

March 2016

hat does paradise mean to you? According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is “an ideal or idyllic place or state”. Maybe luxury refers simply to time where in our moment-poor, hectic lives, we struggle to find space for ourselves; or perhaps it is reserved for occasions spent with friends and family; or maybe it’s hours spent in an exquisite restaurant with caviar on tap, and red velvet seats to nestle into. They are all very amiable explanations of luxury, but I believe I have found the true definition of the word: Velaa private island in the Maldives. The atolls of the Maldives have long-been a wish list destination. Talc-soft sands, azure waters, perfect Robinson Crusoe-style islands to wash up on and recharge. There are resorts dotted all over this stretch of the Indian Ocean but Velaa stands heads and shoulders over the rest. Why? It’s all in the details. The project is from Czech businessman, Jiri Smejc whose wife fell in love with the Maldives during their honeymoon. Returning to the islands on a regular basis they decided to create their own slice of heaven and carved out such a place on the shores of Velaa. Calling on architect and designer Petr Kolar, they created an island ideal that includes Maldivian

influences but is all together slicker, chicer and boasts that je ne sais quoi that makes it extraordinary. Velaa – meaning turtle island in the local language – draws on these influences. You’ll find the tortishell-like tones of the mahogany and teak woods take their cue from the turtle’s shells, whilst the blue and turquoise notes are like a watercolour paintbox directly from the ocean. There are high-tech aspects to appeal to the media-savvy age with iPads updated with daily newspapers and the goingson of the island, and iPhone-style tablets to call your villa butler should you need anything – from diving times and snorkel kit, to room service and a replenish of the Clarins products. For the adventurous, there are numerous water toys including a submarine – yes, you read that correctly – to a bobcat, from a catamaran to paddleboards. There are diving excursions to barely explored reefs in the Noonu atoll where grey-tipped sharks and graceful eagle rays swim amongst the rainbow coral, and trips out on either the island’s luxury yacht or the more traditional Maldivian Bahtheli. On land, you can improve your golf swing on the nine tee, professional green complete with all the latest gadgetry; go for early morning tennis practices or indulge in private yoga sunrise salutations.

March 2016

HORSETORQUE

SHEER REVERENCE Aston Martin stands head and shoulders above its rivals when it comes to a sleek and covetable style. Equestrio Arabia gets behind the wheel of the DB9 Super GT for a cruise around Dubai. WORDS: Charley Larcombe PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Aston Martin

here’s something about an Aston Martin and the respect it commands on the roads. Even the routes of Dubai where it sometimes feels like a fairground ride of dodgems rather than a city main highway. Jostling for position, lack of indication, the beeping of horns and a selfish attitude of not letting anyone else in to the steady stream of traffic, is all in a day’s drive when navigating through DXB. However, in driving the Aston Martin, you notice a different attitude. Rather than like polo players calling for “my line” and riding you off should you dare to take part in the game, people positively fall over themselves to be polite to the Aston driver. ‘Please, go ahead, go in front of me’, ‘Feel free to overtake me’, ‘Of course,

March 2016

take this final parking space’. In short, such is the reverence held for the Aston Martin, that people’s whole demeanours change. Maybe it has something to do with the brand itself. The ultimate British sports car with its close ties to Bond, James Bond instantly makes it recognisable. The elegant double wings badge is a sign of excellence that many wish to own. Ask people their dream car and a vehicle from the Aston Martin stable will in most cases be top of the list. Maybe it’s the DB9 GT itself. Even when I pick up my ‘whip’ for the (sadly only) two-day test drive, another Aston Martin owner at the service garage having work done on his own car, asks whether he can come and take a look. We discuss the beauty of the lithe

and fluid lines of the updated GT silhouette and then he wishes me a good day with a wistful, ‘I’ll have what she’s having’ last glance. So she’s quite the beauty. Sitting low and wide, this car looks like a World Cup thoroughbred at peak condition. Taut muscles and an athletic stance enhanced by the ‘light catcher’ feature, which runs from the lower front bumper and continues along the sill of the car, creates an athletic appearance. The front grille – inspired by the design of the sold-out One-77 hypercar – features five horizontal vanes, which are chamfered to create an aerofoil profile; paired with zinc bonnet vents are classic design cues but injected with full-throttle power. Then the rear of the car with its muscular

haunches again communicates the supremacy of what lies underneath the beautiful ‘skin’ of this vehicle. This DB9 sees the introduction of the new generation AM11 V12 engine. The new V12 takes some of the ‘Gen4’ VH architecture hardware technology developed for Aston Martin’s Vanquish, but has been tuned up to suit the character of DB9. The result is an engine with effortless torque of up to 620Nm and peak power of 517PS – both significantly improved versus the outgoing unit. The DB9 boasts a number of important enhancements over the outgoing car’s already impressive inventory. The braking system, for instance, now uses as standard Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) discs and calipers supplied by acknowledged global brake experts,

March 2016

EQUITIME

THE AVIATOR RICHARD MILLE’S RM 50-02 ACJ TOURBILLON SPLIT SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH The worlds of aviation and horology come together in this sleek and sturdy timepiece.

hen the names Richard Mille and Airbus meet, the result is striking. Inspired by the aircraft created for personal clients by the Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) unit, the RM 50-02 Tourbillon Split Seconds Chronograph is a visually stunning timepiece. Just like the luxurious corporate jets built to the exacting requests of ACJ clients, it makes use of advanced, open worked design elements in the internal design of bridges and baseplate in grade 5 titanium, and employs extensive skeletonisation in every possible area. This means significant weight reduction, in addition to a number of parts within the movement being coated with a distinctive aeronautical coating normally used to protect engine and chassis parts. The novel case shape in TitaniumAluminum alloy with a secondary ceramic bezel was developed to mirror the outlines of an ACJ’s typical window shape with a clearly visible, multilayered hull structure surround. This is also the first time the iconic Richard Mille screws around the outer edge of the bezel have been replaced by Torq set® screws. The tourbillon RM 50-02 ACJ is a limited edition of 30 pieces.

104

March 2016

“INSPIRED BY THE AIRCRAFT CREATED FOR PERSONAL CLIENTS BY THE AIRBUS CORPORATE JETS UNIT, THE RM 50-02 TOURBILLON SPLIT SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH IS A VISUALLY STUNNING TIMEPIECE.” March 2016

105

S P O R T I N G TA L K

Enrico Roselli LA MARTINA CEO, ENRICO ROSELLI TALKS TO EQUESTRIO ARABIA ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE POLO LIFESTYLE BRAND, IT’S DEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD OF SPORT AND FASHION AND ITS UNIVERSAL APPEAL TO THE WORLD TRAVELLER. LA MARTINA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH POLO IS DEEP-ROOTED AND TRULY GLOBAL, WHAT FIRST INSPIRED THE BRAND? There are many reasons why La Martina was born: our Argentine origin, the most authentic professional polo environment, as well as an early awareness that the sport would have a greater impact over everyday attire and lifestyle. In this respect, sports are contaminating our lives since it is taking a prominent importance to sharing our passions, to share them not just on a social side but even before that, in our everyday lives. We consider polo to be one of the last sports – if not the last – still sheltered from big investment impact and thus very much based upon passion and skills, fair play and dedication; which are also our values.

INNOVATION APPEARS IMPORTANT TO LA MARTINA, HOW DOES THE BRAND EVOLVE AND DEVELOP NEW PRODUCTS? Innovation is an ongoing process, which takes rise mainly from the players and horses’ needs, and their requirements to perform better. As a matter of fact, our research and results sometimes come directly from our brand ambassadors and almost always they pass through them in order to test, improve and certify what we develop. There is constant research whilst always respecting the traditions and this union can be very challenging. La Martina feels we want to be a sort of connection between the global competitive business market, digital discoveries, news and the polo community (including its professionals and enthusiasts), in order to bring them the latest revelations and solutions in order to respect the values and needs of polo.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES LA MARTINA SO SUCCESSFUL NOT ONLY AMONGST THE LEGITIMATE POLO COMMUNITY BUT ALSO THE FASHION CIRCLE ON A WIDER SCALE?

We at La Martina are inspired by integrity. We consider our position within the sport to be very important, which means loyalty to our mission, and transparency about the means we use to reach our objectives. The absolute consistency that La Martina has had in its first thirty years of activity, its true connection to polo, the fact that we are still truly inspired by fairness and passion. These values are globally appreciated and the foundation to the extremely appealing lifestyle we represent.

The local community is absolutely important not just because of the market it represents but especially because more and more of it is composed by internationally educated individuals, who are frequent travelers and have a high expectation in terms of products and services.

WHO IS THE IDEAL LA MARTINA CLIENT? Our client is a well-travelled and sophisticated person, who knows the latest trends but not necessarily follows it. They prefer to create a personal mix of refined pieces of clothing and to enjoy it while experiencing all the attractive contents offered or connected to the polo world: travelling, networking, passion for sport and amazing locations, etc.

NATURALLY LA MARTINA ENJOYS GLOBAL POLO EXPOSURE; HOW IS IT SET WITHIN THE GCC MARKET? WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE BRAND HERE INTHE REGION? In the GCC market, La Martina represents all the above mentioned, with a good stores presence and being part of many polo events. The next event sponsored by La Martina will be The Maserati Dubai Polo Challenge DUBAI POLO that will take place at Desert Palm from the 4th to the 8th of April and will be organised locally by the exclusive Guards Polo Club from Windsor, England. 112

March 2016

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE GULF-BASED POLO COMMUNITY AND THE FASHION MARKET HERE TO THE EXPANSION OF THE BRAND?

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM LA MARTINA ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE? SPONSORSHIPS? STORE OPENINGS? We just opened our first store in Johannesburg and we’ll soon open another in South Africa; for the last months we have been working on the first mono-brand store opening in China, specifically on Hainan Island, which should take place in a few weeks now; we are selecting the best partners to open with in completely mew markets such as Iran and Iraq, but at the same time there is also a possible opening in Barcelona (together with some other projects in Europe, which are still under study!). We are heavily investing into digital. We mean to create a platform, which allows our partners and our brand to have access to a central customer database and CRM, to exchange information (whenever consented by the client) about customer behaviors and preferences and integrate e-commerce with the physical stores. At the same time, we are finalising the incorporation of the La Martina Foundation whose objective is to share knowledge of business (as already done upon request of IMD, London Business School and Harvard) and spread the knowledge, practice and culture of the sport of polo.

THIS IS A PREVIEW TO GET THE PRINTED VERSION VISIT EQUESTRIO.COM/SHOP/EQUESTRIO-MAGAZINE