Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup

Left: Jodie Kidd. Right (l to r) Winners Negro Novillo Astrada, Juan Martin Nero, Stefano Marsaglia and Marcos Heguy

Oliver and Arabella Tobias. Below, Mike Rutherford

Right: Princess Beatrice and Sarah, Duchess of York 54 Hurlingham

Gold Cup glory for A

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST exciting Gold Cups of all time – and the highest scoring final in the coveted trophy’s 48 year history.

In an extraordinary reversal of fortune following the semi finals three days earlier, when Dubai had seemed virtually invincible, it was the Azzurra side of Italian banker Stefano Marsaglia which dominated on Sunday July 18.

Azzurra had only narrowly beaten Larchmont 10-9 in the semi-final and went into the game as underdogs. But their Argentine 10-goaler Marcos Heguy, who has been in the Azzurra side since it entered the high-goal world three years ago, combined brilliantly with 8-goaler Juan Martin Nero and, supported by Negro Novillo Astrada (5 goals), the team played a formidable game. By the end of the first half, the Azzurra side was 11-5 in the lead. When Marsaglia scored a perfect goal to close the fourth chukka at 13-5, victory was in sight.

“To score a goal and win the Gold Cup was beautiful and fantastic. I was so happy and I am still so happy”, said Stefano