Piaget Manufacture movement 880P Mechanical self-winding chronograph Flyback, dual time 100 meter water resistant Titanium, sapphire case-back Rubber strap
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www.piagetpolo.com
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PQ Staff Publisher
PoloLine Inc. info@pololine.com
Editor in Chief
Aurora Eastwood aurora@pqinternational.com
Lifestyle Editor
Sara Rotman sara@modcocreative.com
Design & Production
Tomás M. Garbers tomas@pqinternational.com
PR and Marketing Aurora Eastwood Editor
María Noel Raffo Antin noel@pqinternational.com
Contributing Writers
Alex Webbe Alejandra Ocampos Gonzalo Echeverry Daniela Dini Keep Rolling Eduardo Amaya Julio Oriol Amelia Latham Wake Nadine Mentior
Contributing Photographers
PoloLine Media Ana Clara Cozzi Matías Callejo Images of Polo
Spring Issue 2013 - # 83 - Year XX
Alice Gipps
The duel of the season Adolfo Cambiaso & Facundo Pieres Photo by PoloLine
David Lominska Printing
Advent Print Group
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Spring Issue 2013
Editorial
They say England has nine months of winter followed by three months of bad weather. This has never been truer than April 2012 to April 2013. Well, we await the 2013 High Goal season with bated breath. Will the sun shine at all? Will Dubai re-emerge as top dogs? How will Black Bears adjust to a return to the 22 goal? What impact will Sheikh Mohammed have on polo (Godolphin)? His influence on the British racing industry and the global bloodstock industry cannot be overemphasised and he practically underpins it. If he gets involved in polo even a fraction of the extent he did in racing, it could be a game changer. Investment in grounds will be apparent this year. The perfect ground is one with extensive drainage, a lot of sand, and a good irrigation system. That means that barring extremes, it can be played in most variations of British weather. However those grounds number few, so let us pray for good weather. Meanwhile, in sunnier climes, Dubai is enjoying ever increasing popularity as a polo destination, though it seems they need to invest in better fields to really rival alternative destinations like Palm Beach and Argentina. Snow polo at St Moritz took place this year as the lake was frozen enough to be safe, and was a glitzy and impressive as ever -dominated this time by members of Guards Polo Club! I will be at most events this summer, albeit with small baby in tow -do come and say hello and tell me what you’d like to see in this iconic magazine. Aurora Eastwood Editor 8 | PQ
Dubai Equestrian & Polo Club
Richard Mille
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PQ #83
Calendar
May
June
July
4_Campeonato Argentino del Interior con Handicap Final 10-16 goal Club Hipico Santa Catalina, Corrientes, Arg
7_Jaeger-LeCoultre Duke of Sutherland Cup 18 goal Cowdray Park Polo Club, UK
7_Ladies Polo Cup Final Chantilly Polo Club, Paris, France
18_Patrick Guerrand-Hermes Cup Final 12 goal Chantilly Polo Club, Paris, France
8_Charity Cup Final 10-12 goal Chantilly Polo Club, Paris, France
18_St Regis International England vs South America Cowdray Park Polo Club, UK
8_Sao Jose Copa Ouro Final 22 goal Sao Jose Polo Club, Brazil
18_Cirencester Park Cocktail Party Cirencester Park Polo Club, UK
16_Queen´s Cup Final 22 goal Guards Polo Club, UK
19_Pinkster Polo Final 8 goal Walre Polo Club, Netherlands 20_Scapa Beach Polo Trophy Final Knooke-Heist, Belgium 20_Audi Polo Awards Coworth Park Polo Club, UK 21_The Queen´s Cup 22 goal Guards Polo Club, UK 26_Jaeger-LeCoultre Dollar Cup Final 12 goal Cowdray Park Polo Club, UK
23_Habtoor Royal Windsor Final 15 goal Guards Polo Club, UK 23_Austrian Polo Open Final 12 goal Polo Club Schloss, Viena, Austria 25_Gold Cup for the British Open 22 goal Cowdray Park Polo Club, UK 29_Laversine Cup Challenge Elie de Rottschild - Final 10-12 goal Chantilly Polo Club, Paris, France 30_Archie David Cup Final 8 goal Guards Polo Club, UK
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14_International Polo Cup Final 15 goal St Tropez Polo Club, France 21_Gold Cup for the British Open Final 26 goal Cowdray Park Polo Club, UK 26_Sotogrande Bronze Cup 22 goal Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande, Spain 27_Deauville Gold Cup 16 goal Deauville Polo Club, France 28_Coronation Cup 28 goal Guards Polo Club, UK 28_Open de Gassin Final 15 goal St Tropez Polo Club, France
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Spring Issue 2013 Price £6
Tournaments
Off the Field
14
88
C.V. Whitney Cup Alegria takes top honors
16
USPA Gold Cup Valiente defends USPA Piaget Gold Cup
20 40
90 Veterinary The evolution of the polo pony: From embryo transfers to clones
109 th US Open Championship Zacara repeats US Open Champion!
92
World Polo Cup on Snow
Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 16 Carat Gold
66
94
High Goal Pony Review 2013 Best ponies of the Spring Season
HH President of UAE Cup The Bin Drai are Champions in Abu Dhabi
72
World Polo Tour Facundo Pieres, the new runner-up Adolfo Cambiaso remains steadfast at the top of the ranking
Number 13 proved lucky this time
46
Polo Tips "Anticipation" A powerful tool when playing polo
96 Jaeger-LeCoultre 180 years of total dedication to watchmaking
UK Arena Season The highlights of a very cold and wet arena season! HPA National Club Championships
#83
Contents This page: All watches, Rolex. rolex.com. Lip color, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Palais Royale. Opposite page: All jewelry, Sydney Garber. sydneygarber.com. Lip color, Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Volga. In this story: Model, Laura Love. Hair, Ken O'Rourke. Makeup, Dotti. Manicure, Kiyo Okada. Art Direction, Lindsey Ricci Choo. Production, MODCo Creative.
Interviews
Lifestyle
26
100
Lyndon Lea Prolific Patron does a hat-trick
54
Mohammed Al Habtoor “Things in Dubai are done in bigger sizes and better quality”
56 58
Juan Ambroggio Talent lands in Dubai
60
Faris Al Yabouni “I want to be an added value for the team”
62
104
Amr Zedan “The Dubai Polo Season is a step in the right direction”
Savoire Vivre - The Spa Life A touch of the exotic
106
Guillermo Cuitiño Polo’s indomitable man
The Urban Hunter Project Street `smarts global culture from the ground up
Savoire Vivre - Our Global Table Spoils of Liverpool
110
Travel - Madrid ¡Viva Madrid!
114 Fashion Match Point
122 Fashion Pop/Shine
126 Fashion Romantic daydream
C.V. Whitney Cup
Alegria takes top honors By Alex Webbe • Photos by Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi With a number of teams and players having gotten warmed up in 20-goal play, a field of nine teams entered the first leg of America’s Triple Crown of polo, the C.V. Whitney Cup at Wellington’s International Polo Club. As the luck of the draw would have it, two preseason favorites, Zacara (Facundo Pieres, Lyndon Lea, Cristian “Magoo” Laprida, Mike Azzaro) and Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, Santiago Torres, David “Pelon” Stirling, Adolfo Cambiaso) would face one another in the first match of the tournament. Zacara took an early 2-0 lead after the first chukka and held a narrow 4-3 halftime lead as the two teams battled it out. A 5-5 tie after the fourth chukka and a 7-6 Valiente lead after the fifth was reversed by two unanswered goals by Facundo Pieres in the final chukka for the 8-7 win. Zacara followed up their opening win with a 9-8 Alegria winner of CV Whitney Facundo Obregon, Julian Mannix, Fred Mannix Sr, Mariano Aguerre and Hilario Ulloa
14 | PQ
victory over ERG (Scott Wood, Agustin Merlos, Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr, Francisco “Paco” de Narvaez). In other C. V. Whitney Cup play, Alegria (Julian Mannix, Hilario Ulloa, Mariano Aguerre and Facundo Obregon) destroyed Piaget (Melissa Ganzi, Guillermo “Sapo” Caset, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Ignacio Badiola) 14-6 to earn a semifinal berth where they would face Zacara. Alegria got on track from the opening throw-in in the first C.V. Whitney semifinal, taking a first chukka lead of 2-1 and building it into a 9-4 halftime lead. It was a balanced Alegria attack that had Mannix, Ulloa and Obregon scoring four goals apiece and Aguerre leading the team with five goals and an overtime goal that offset nine goals scored by Zacara’s Facundo Pieres. In the meantime Lechuza Caracas (Victor Vargas, Francisco Elizalde, Pablo “Polito” Pieres, Juan Martin Nero)
needed an overtime period to defeat Orchard Hill (Steve Van Andel, Rodrigo Andrade, Pablo Mac Donough, Matias Mac Donough) 10-9; while Coca-Cola (Gillian Johnston, Sugar Erskine, Julio Arellano, Sebastian Merlos) rode past Audi (Marc Ganzi, Nicolas Pieres, Gonzalo Pieres Jr, Jeff Hall) in an 11-7 victory that placed them in semifinal action against Lechuza Caracas. Coca-Cola fell behind early but rallied for an 8-6 halftime lead and stretched the advantage to three goals, 12-9, after the fifth. After leading for much of the game, Coca-Cola collapsed in the final chukka, allowing Lechuza Caracas to score four unanswered goals in the final chukka for the win. The C.V. Whitney Cup finals were now set with Alegria meeting Lechuza Caracas. The two teams matched one another, goal for goal in the opening two chukkers, 2-2, 4-4. All four of Alegria’s goals in the first two chukkas came on penalty shots while all four of the Lechuza Caracas came from the field. Alegria forged ahead in the third, picking up goals from Ulloa and Obregon while holding Lechuza Caracas scoreless to go ahead 6-4 at the end of the first half. Two more penalty goals from Obregon in the fourth chukka were answered by a single goal from Nero, and the Alegria lead grew to three goals, 8-5.
A four goal fifth period for Alegria had them up, 12-8 with Lechuza Caracas struggling to get back into the game. The two teams exchanged goals in the final chukka with Mannix and Obregon scoring single goals for Alegria while Vargas and Elizalde responded with goals for Lechuza Caracas in the 14-10 Alegria victory. Twenty-one-year-old Julian Mannix gave credit to the entire Alegria organization for the win. “Everyone’s happy for what we achieved (today). It’s not just four guys playing, it’s a whole team effort”, he said. “Everyone in the barns, everyone pulling for us, it’s a lot of people’s work that goes into a win like this. So we’re all happy”, he said. Obregon set the pace for the day with a game high eight goals, all on penalty shots, and was named MVP for his efforts on both offense and defense. Ulloa added three goals for the win with Aguerre scoring twice and Mannix getting credit for a single goal. Ulloa’s 7-year-old Chestnut American Thoroughbred mare, Mia, received Best Playing Pony honors. Pieres led the Lechuza attack with four goals. Vargas was credited with three goals. Nero scored twice and Elizalde registered a single goal in the loss. Mariano Aguerre
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USPA Gold Cup
Valiente defends USPA Piaget Gold Cup By Alex Webbe • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi The USPA Piaget Gold Cup is one of the most popular tournaments at the International Polo Club every year, and 2013 proved to be no exception. Two more teams joined the ranks of the C.V. Whitney Cup field with the addition of Mt. Brilliant (Bo Goodman/Hutton Goodman, Nick Roldan, Santiago Chavanne and Matias Magrini) and Zorzal (Mariano Obregon, Jason Crowder, Mariano Gonzalez and Fred Mannix) and the ball was in motion once again. A number of the teams were critical of the single elimination format of the C.V. Whitney Cup and didn’t feel that they had an opportunity to get into rhythm before being knocked out of the competition, but the three-bracket structure of the Gold Cup would certainly separate the elite teams from the rest of the field.
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Both Valiente and Zacara made strong opening statements with Valiente hammering Mt. Brilliant 15-6 while Zacara raced past Coca-Cola 17-7. Marc Ganzi’s Audi team also registered an opening day win over Zorzal, but it took an overtime goal to do it, 8-7. Lechuza Caracas got seven goals from “Polito” Pieres as they defeated a Piaget lineup that featured 10-goalers Miguel Novillo Astrada and Guillermo “Sapo” Caset, 12-10 in the morning of the second day of play. ERG captured the afternoon match with a 16-11 win over Orchard Hill. Agustin Merlos scored seven goals in a game that ERG controlled from the opening chukka. Zacara began to assert themselves as second round play began, scoring a 10-7 win over Mt. Brilliant behind seven goals from Facundo Pieres. Gonzalo Pieres Jr
Guillermo “Sapo” Caset
followed up his brother’s performance later that day, scoring seven goals of his own as Audi flexed their muscles in a 13-7 win over Alegria. An injured Marc Ganzi was replaced in the Audi lineup by 16-year-old Juan Bollini Jr. The final match of the day had CocaCola getting roughed up by a powerful Valiente team, 13-8. David Stirling seemed fully recovered from his earlier injury (ribs), and the magic between Stirling and Adolfo Cambiaso had returned as the two combined for eleven goals (Cambiaso had seven of the eleven).
The teams had four days rest until Piaget Gold Cup play resumed, and when it did, ten of the eleven teams in competition would take the field in a five match day. Morning games had Orchard Hill (1-1) handing Piaget (0-2) its second loss of the tournament, 12-7, behind a balanced attack that had every member of the team getting on the scoreboard. The combination of 10-goalers Miguel Novillo Astrada and Guillermo Caset Jr produced a disappointing six goals in the game. In the second early game of the day, Alegria (1-1) evened
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Juan Martin Nero and Mike Azzaro
18 | PQ
their record against a Coca-Cola team (0-3) that forced them into overtime before dropping their third straight game. In afternoon action, Lechuza (2-0) won their second consecutive game by downing ERG (1-1) in a 9-6 contest. Fred Mannix’s Zorzal team (1-1) ran all over Mt. Brillianat (0-3) while Valiente (3-0) handled Audi (11), 10-7. Three days later, on Sunday, March 17, five more games took place that would determine the pairings for the tournament’s semifinals. Alegria improved their record to 2-1 with an unimpressive 7-5 win over Mt. Brilliant while a strong Zacara (3-0) showing evened Audi’s record at 2-2 on the strength of a 16-10 win. Facundo Pieres scored eight goals in the Zacara win. Lechuza (3-0) rang up their third straight win, 1311, as they knocked off Orchard Hill (1-2), but they had to come from behind to do it. Orchard Hill was up by three goals after the fourth chukka before falling to a balanced Lechuza attack that had Juan Martin Nero scoring four times while teammates Victor Vargas, Polito Pieres and Francisco Elizalde chipped in three goals apiece in the win. Coca-Cola (0-4) lost their second overtime game of the tournament, 12-11, to Zorzal (2-1) while ERG (2-1) slipped past Piaget (0-3) in a one goal, 7-6 win. After two weeks and 18 games, Valiente (3-0), Zacara (3-0), Lechuza (3-0), Alegria (2-1), ERG (2-1) and Zorzal (2-1) emerged from a field of eleven teams to determine who would play in the following Wednesday’s semifinals of the 2013 USPA Piaget Gold Cup. A series of shootouts to determine seeding immediately followed the Sunday 3 pm match prompting Cambiaso to show up on his son’s pony for the occasion. Five teams (Valiente, Zacara, Alegria, Zorzal and ERG) took to the field in a penalty
shootout that would not only decide the winner of the II/III Brackets with Valiente beating Zacara for a top seeding. Then ERG, Alegria and Zorzal fought it out with Alegria surviving to qualify for the semifinals. Lechuza Caracas already qualified by winning Bracket I with a 3-0 record. A subsequent draw set the semifinal playing pairings. In the first semifinal game, Zacara managed to squeak by Lechuza Caracas in an 11-10 effort despite a game high five goals from Lechuza’s “Polito” Pieres. Valiente had little difficulty in dispensing with Alegria as Cambiaso scored nine times in the 15-10 victory, and the stage was set. The tournament final was actually two games as Zacara dominated early play, galloping out to a 4-2 lead after the first two chukkas of play. Zacara had missed additional scoring opportunities, including a pair of 60-yard penalty shots, but still led 5-4 at the end of the first half. Valiente made adjustments at halftime, however, and returned to the field a different team for the last three chukkas. “I think we played their game in the first half”, offered 10-goaler David Stirling.“In the second half we played our game”, he smiled. Valiente exploded for five unanswered goals in the fourth period and left a bewildered Zacara team wondering what happened. Leading by four goals, 9-5, Valiente matched Zacara goal for goal for the remaining two chukkas for the 13-9 win. Nineteen-year-old Santi Torres was named Most Valuable Player after scoring five of his game high seven goals on penalty shots while David Stirling’s 10-year-old brown mare, Silk was honored as Best Playing Pony.
Robert and Bob Jornayvaz PQ | 19
109 th US Open Championship
Zacara repeats US Open Champion! By Alex Webbe • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi Lyndon Lea’s Zacara polo team (Facundo Pieres, Lyndon Lea, Cristian “Magoo” Laprida and Mike Azzaro) scored their second consecutive United States Open Championship win in a 16-13 victory over a highlytouted Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, Santi Torres, David “Pelon” Stirling and Adolfo Cambiaso) foursome. Valiente had scored a four goal win over Zacara just weeks earlier in the finals of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup final, but were unable to repeat the feat in the high-goal season finale.
Under the threat of impending rain, the 109 th Maserati US Open got underway at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida before a crowd of over 5,000 enthusiastic fans. Celebrities were on hand for the national anthem and the coin toss, there was a jet fly-over, but once the ball was thrown to start the game it was all business. Zacara had scored an earlier win over Valiente in the opening game of the 26-goal single-elimination C.V. Whitney Cup, but Valiente made short work of Zacara’s claim of superiority by soundly defeating them, 13-9, in the finals of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup just weeks later. 20 | PQ
“It’s difficult to compete against teams like Zacara and Valiente”, offered 10-goaler Miguel Astrada. “They continue to upgrade their strings every year with top horses.” And the stables of both Zacara and Valiente proved to be deep, as they battled through the 20-goal and the 26-goal seasons in Florida. Valiente powered up their efforts in March to score five straight wins in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup competition including the 13-9 win over Zacara in the finals.
Facundo Pieres and David Stirling
Zacara started their winning streak again in US Open play with wins over Orchard Hill (12-10); Faraway (15-7); Piaget (9-7; Audi (12-8) and a hard-fought 11-10 overtime win over ERG in semifinal action.
virtually waltzed through their 14-8 semifinal win over Coca-Cola (Valiente was on top 10-2 at the end of the first half), ERG dragged Zacara into overtime before losing and setting up the 2013 US Open finals.
Valiente ran its undefeated string to ten goals going into the US Open final and seemed poised to take home the silver for team patron, Bob Jornayvaz.
Zacara didn’t seem to have the same snap to their lineup as they did in 2012, and following a collision in which Mike Azzaro and Cristian Laprida hit the ground in the fifth chukka of their 11-10 overtime win over ERG, there were health concerns.
If any bets were to be made on the outcome of the finals, Valiente had to be heavily favored. While Valiente
PQ | 21
“I jacked my back pretty bad”, said Mike Azzaro following the semifinal win over ERG, “and Magoo (Laprida) got jacked pretty bad too”, he added. “If you have to play a semifinal like that, it’s tough to come back in the finals”, he said. But that’s just what Zacara did. Facundo Pieres put Zacara on top in the opening minute of play, receiving a backhand pass from Cristian Laprida and scoring on a neck-shot, 1-0. Valiente responded with a goal from team captain Bob Jornayvaz. Jornayvaz was on the receiving end of a pass from 10-goaler Pelon Stirling, and carried it to the goal from inside the 60-yard line, 1-1. A Valiente sent Facundo Pieres to the penalty line at 4:44 where he converted a 60-yard shot for a goal, 2-1. Adolfo Cambiaso showed why many consider him to be the best in the game when he scored on a pass from Stirling to tie it up at 2-2. Mike Azzaro put Zacara back in front on a 45-yard shot through the Valiente goalposts, 3-2. A minute later a Zacara foul had Santi Torres converting a 30-yard penalty shot for a Valiente goal, 3-3. Torres scored his second goal of the game with 26 seconds on the clock, giving Valiente their first lead of the day, 4-3. Torres missed picking up a pass from Cambiaso, but managed to steal the ball away from Azzaro and carry it over 150 yards for a goal, 5-3, but Zacara wasn’t going to go away. Consecutive goals from Pieres (a penalty conversion) and Laprida closed out the scoring in the second chukka in a 5-5 deadlock. Facundo Pieres displayed the mallet work that sets him head and shoulders above the rest as he stole the ball from Stirling, reversed field and raced toward the Valiente goal where he scored a go-ahead goal for Zacara, 6-5. Just to remind everyone why he is still considered the top player in the game, Cambiaso displayed some impressive stickwork of his own as he maneuvered through the entire Zacara team before cutting a sharp angle shot through the goalposts to tie it up at 6-6. Stirling gave the lead back to Valiente with a goal from the field midway through the period. A penalty conversion by Torres with a minute-and-a-half to play extended the Valiente lead to two goals, 8-6, but Zacara charged back. Laprida scored the final goal of the chukka with 43 seconds left in the chukka to trail Valiente, 8-7. Stirling restored Valiente’s two goal lead in the opening minute of the second half, but that would be the last offensive display Valiente would connect on in the fourth, as the chukka belonged to Pieres. Consecutive penalty conversions from Pieres were accentuated by an impressive 100-yard shot through the goalposts in the final minute of play as Zacara took the lead again, 10-9. In a chukka rife with penalties, all six goals scored came from the penalty line. Cambiaso and Torres scored two goals apiece while Pieres scored his eighth and ninth goals of the afternoon. With one chukka left in regulation time, Valiente led, 13-12. 22 | PQ
Pablo Mac Donough and Adolfo Cambiaso
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Once again, it appeared that the umpire’s whistles weren’t friendly to Valiente as Pieres converted a pair of penalty shots for goals to take back the lead, 14-13. Laprida made it a two goal game, 15-13 with less than two minutes to play, and that was about the time things got interesting. A whistle was blown on Zacara with the placement of the ball being made at midfield. Cambiaso was arguing that it should be a Penalty 4 (60-yard shot at goal), which would allow Valiente the possibility of converting the penalty shot and having a last minute opportunity to tie the game up and force the overtime. The umpires didn’t see it that way and a penalty assessed against Valiente taking the ball from Valiente and awarding Zacara a 30-yard penalty shot (which they converted). Avoiding the inevitable at this point, Cambiaso left the field as Pieres scored his twelfth goal of the game on the penalty shot for the 16-13 Zacara victory. A frustrated Valiente team rode off the field while a jubilant Zacara lineup embraced and shook hands with one another as they celebrated their second consecutive US Open Championship. Facundo Pieres led all scoring with an incredible 12 goals, nine on penalty shots, and was named MVP. Cristian Laprida added three goals and Mike Azzaro scored once. Santi Torres led the Valiente attack with six goals (five on penalties). Adolfo Cambiaso scored two of his four goals on penalty shots. David Stirling scored twice and Bob Jornayvaz added a goal in a losing effort. Bob Jornayvaz’s Medallion (played by Pelon Stirling) earned Best Playing Pony honors while Adolfo Cambiaso’s horses were awarded Best String. Facundo Pieres’s Concha was named Horse of the Year. Machitos Jackie was awarded as Horse of the Year by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Association (AACCP).
Cristian “Magoo” Laprida
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Agustin Merlos and Lyndon Lea
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Lyndon Lea
Prolific Patron does a hat-trick By Nadine Mentior • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi 2013 US Open, 2012 US Open, 2011 Gold Cup – win after prestigious win for the British-born patron of Zacara, Lyndon Lea, talking here to Nadine Mentior of PQ.
Tell me how you first got into polo. We had a corporate retreat in Palm Springs and I was trying to build a team at the time. Seven of us needed something to do as a little bit of bonding and in Palm Springs it’s either golf or polo and golf doesn’t lend itself well to people that have played and haven’t played and not many people had been on a horse before, so polo seemed ideal, so we did a little three day course at the polo club there and it was sort of like putting heroin in my veins. How did Zacara come about? Well, when I started playing, my first team was called Los Feos and then I thought that I would name it after companies that I had, so I had Typhoo first, then I had Jimmy Choo, and then when I sold Jimmy Choo, I was so bloody tired of changing the name every couple of years that I decided to create something that was mine and that I wouldn’t have to change, so I was sitting having a bottle of wine at the time, and the wine was called Tantara and I thought “that’s such a cool name” and it’s got a horse on the label and I thought “I wish I had a name like Tantara” and then it just came to me, with my kids, Zac and Chiara and I’m like “Zac-ara”… now I like Zacara better than Tantara! What are your plans for 2013 and beyond? 2013 we’re playing both US Open and British Open. The team is the same in the US and we’re obviously defending. In the British Open we’re playing with Facundo [Pieres] again - I haven’t played with Facundo in the UK before, so it’s a new thing for me, but there are certainly no plans beyond 2013 at this point. I think there have been a lot of frustrations with polo over the last couple of years, whether it’s with organisations or handicaps or umpiring – all the usual things you hear from everybody. But you know, the stakes have gone up so much over the last 5 years in polo, that you’ve got to look at it every year. What do you think made your team successful to win the US Open? I think any team that has Facundo on it clearly is blessed. I mean, Facundo, to my eye, is the most extraordinary talent in the game today. We had a team that started off the season, which was basically Facundo and a couple of his childhood friends, so there was a good rapport between the players, but it’s obviously widely known what happened with the team - [Joaquin] Pittaluga moved on and Mike Azzaro came 26 | PQ
into the team. I made that decision unilaterally and kind of imposed it. We were playing ok, we were winning, but not WINNING and so my view, if you look at what makes Facundo comfortable on the field, is he’s mostly comfortable when he’s playing with Gonzalito and it’s because of stylistically how they play. Facundo could relax about everything behind and just attack relentlessly, and he couldn’t do that with us, because he kept having to worry about the back door. He wasn’t free to unleash his full potential, so he was playing at 50% of his capability. When we brought Mike into the team, who’s just so solid, so stable, so experienced, it created a different dynamic amongst the players, because it was no longer a team of childhood friends, it became more professional. After a few games where Facundo got the confidence that Mike had the back covered, Facundo was free to be Facundo, and when he’s Facundo, he’s just bloody hard to stop. And not to mention that Magoo [Laprida] alongside him, is just every day of the week a solid workhorse and he just lives and dies for Facundo, so the team was able to work for Facundo and that’s what led to the success ultimately.
Obviously, you’re very busy with Lion Capital, your company here, so how do you find time to practise with your team when you’re playing in the States? It’s pretty challenging, I have to say. Every year I think to myself, why am I doing this? I literally am travelling from the UK to Florida every weekend. So I would leave here either Thursday or Friday night, land in Florida in the early hours, then I’m there for either 2 or 3 days and then I’m back here for the Monday morning and straight back into the office and it’s like that for about 3 months. So it’s a ton of back and forth – it’s pretty exhausting. Who are the team mates you’ve learned the most from? You know, I think with the good fortune to play in high goal, it’s irresponsible if there’s someone you DON’T learn from. The guy who first got me into high goal polo was Ruki Baillieu - I learned a lot from Ruki, sheer athleticism. I got into playing a more organised, disciplined form of polo with the Novillo Astradas – Eduardo, I really give him a lot of credit for taking my polo brain to the next level in terms of understanding that it’s kind of like a game of chess on the field. In the States, I learned a lot from Carlos Gracida, Mike Azzaro and with my more recent journey, Hilario [Ulloa] and Nachi du Plessis and Gonzalo Deltour. That has to be my favourite team ever – such underdogs, David and Goliath and really learning about, not a polo lesson so much, as just a life lesson, in terms of what team spirit can do. And then obviously Facundo is a whole different experience - in playing with Facundo I’m playing with somebody more talented than I’ve ever played with. Clearly every one of these players has so much talent, it’s really inspiring to just be next to them.
Do you get nervous before a big match? That’s a really interesting question, because until last year, no and it’s interesting - when we won the British Open, I had zero nerves, because we didn’t expect to beat Dubai in the quarter-finals and we didn’t expect to beat Jean-François [Decaux] in the semis and we didn’t expect to win, so there was no expectation. In the US Open, when we started going well we were undefeated in the qualification rounds, we knew we could win and so for the first time, I got nervous in the semi-final and it was just because it was so close to achieving something I’d dreamed about - having both [US and UK Opens]. Are there any other sports you play? Whether you call it a sport, I don’t know, but I love, love, love Jiu-Jitsu. I started [training] with the grandson of Hélio Gracie, who’s the founder of Jiu-Jitsu, then Kheydon Gracie basically spent a year living with me and he travelled with me wherever I went, and now another member, not from the Gracie family but from the Gracie Academy, lives with me and we train together. What’s your favourite film? Probably The Godfather. What’s your pet peeve? I think my pet peeve is doing things half-assed. I believe if you’re going to do it, then do it and do it well. And what do you have a weakness for? I have many weaknesses... I am human! If you want an easy answer, it’s my cigars - I tend to have a nice, relaxing cigar before a polo game. PQ | 27
USPA 20 Goal Tournaments
Palm Beach 20-goal Tournaments By Alex Webbe • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi and David Lominska (Herbie Pennell Cup)
Coca-Cola defends Pennell Cup title The International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida welcomed back brothers Memo and Carlos Gracida in the opening game of the season in the 20-goal Herbie Pennell Cup as their La Herradura polo team faced off with a talented Villa Del Lago foursome only to come up short in overtime in a 12-11 loss, with Villa Del Lago qualifying for the finals in the four team field. Later that afternoon a veteran Coca-Cola team took the first step in defending its 2012 Herbie Pennell Cup title by downing Lechuza Caracas 11-8. The balanced Coca-Cola attack had every member of the team scoring, including its latest addition, 3-goaler Tommy Collingwood. Coca-Cola and Villa Del Lago both played a wide open style of play that kept spectators eyes glued to the field. American 9-goaler, Julio
Arellano, was rock-solid at the helm of the Coca-Cola attack as the team charged out to a 7-6 halftime lead. Coca-Cola expanded the lead to two goals, 10-8 in the fourth and held a two goal, 11-9 lead at the end of the fifth. Villa Del Lago scored three times to a single goal from Coca-Cola, with Obregon scoring the tying goal with 3:31 left in regulation play. The tie forced the game into sudden-death overtime with Arellano scoring on a pass from Erskine to win the game for Coca-Cola. Polito Pieres was named MVP for his efforts on behalf of Villa Del Lago with Gillian Johnston’s 10-year-old gray mare, Perk, earning Best Playing Pony Honors.
Crab Orchard celebrates their return with Joe Barry Memorial Cup Villa Del Lago beat Crab Orchard, Lechuza Caracas and ERG for a perfect 3-0 record in the fourteen team field. Audi rebounded from an opening loss to Orchard Hill to score wins over Coca-Cola and La Herradura to qualify for a semifinal berth. Zacara rolled up a 3-0 record with wins over Piaget, Lucchese and Valiente. The fourth team to emerge from the pack was Crab Orchard, who made it into the tournament semifinals with a 2-1 record. The veteran combination of Aguerre and Magrini was magical as they snuck past Zacara’s Hilario Ulloa and Facundo Pieres in semifinal action, 12-11. Earlier in the day, Audi shut down the powerful Villa Del Lago attack to 28 | PQ
score a 9-7 win and earn a berth in the finals against Crab Orchard. The two teams were evenly matched, and at the end of the first half the game had ground to a 6-6 deadlock. Crab Orchard moved in front, 9-6 in the fourth as Audi was unable to get on the scoreboard. A pair of penalty goals from Roldan in the fifth cut the lead to a single goal, 9-8, but that would be as close as Audi would get. Penalty goals from Magrini and Viana were answered by a goal from Nico Pieres with Crab Orchard celebrating the 11-9 victory. Roldan led all scoring with seven penalty goals but Crab Orchard’s Matias Magrini was named MVP. Mariano Aguerre’s Machitos Jackie received Best Playing Pony honors.
Coca-Cola earns its second title with Ylvisaker Cup Coca-Cola proved they were the “real thing” as they rolled through the highly-competitive Ylvisaker Cup field at the International Polo Club to claim the 2013 title. Four brackets accommodated fourteen teams that had already participated in the Joe Barry Memorial Cup and were poised to charge full force into Ylvisaker Cup play. Zacara and ERG showed early promise, running up 3-0 records while five teams (Coca-Cola, Lechuza Caracas, Audi, Villa Del Lago and Piaget) sat on 2-1 records at the end of the preliminary rounds of play. Quarterfinal play narrowed the field down with Audi downing Villa Del Lago 14-0; Coca-Cola slipping past Zacara, 12-10; Lechuza Caracas handing ERG a 10-7 beating; and Lucchese edging Piaget 12-11. Semifinal action results were surprising, not in their outcome, as the
teams were all quite level with one another, but in the final scores. Coca-Cola handed Lechuza a 16-11 thrashing, with Julio Arellano scoring 13 times while Audi seemed to have little trouble with Lucchese in a 17-13 win behind an 11 goal day from star Nic Roldan. The finals lived up to their hype, and although it wasn’t the high scoring affair many had anticipated, the performance of the horses and players was spectacular. The score was tied six times in the course of the game, and in spite of a narrow 4-3 one goal advantage by Coca-Cola at halftime, the match was decided in sudden-death overtime, 9-8, on a penalty goal from Julio Arellano. Coca-Cola’s Sugar Erskine was named MVP while his 8-year-old Bay mare received Best Playing Pony honors.
Villa Del Lago rides off with the Iglehart Cup With teams and players realigning themselves for the opening games of the 26-goal season’s C. V. Whitney Cup, only four teams lined up for the final 20-goal tournament of the season, the Iglehart Cup. Crab Orchard (Felipe Viana, Mariano Aguerre, Matias Magrini and George Rawlings) looked to score a second tournament title, still basking in the glory of the Joe Barry Memorial Cup win and opened with an 8-6 semifinal victory over a stubborn Port Mayaca foursome. A determined Villa Del Lago team (Jared Zenni, Guille Aguero, Magoo Laprida and Agustin Obregon) flexed their muscles in the second tournament semifinal as they ran over the 2012 defending championship Tonkawa entry, 16-10.
In spite of their berth in the tournament finals, scheduling conflicts resulted in Crab Orchard being forced to drop out of the finals, allowing the team they beat, Port Mayaca (Robert Orthwein, Carlucho Arellano, Marianito Obregon and Stevie Orthwein), a second shot at the cup. Port Mayaca trailed for much of the game, but tied it at 11-11 and again at 12-12 in the final chukker of play. Laprida scored the winning goal for Villa Del Lago and Villa Del Lago ended up winning by a single goal, 1312 to a determined Port Mayaca Villa Del effort. Magoo Laprida scored 11 of Villa Del Lago’s 13 goals and was named MVP. Steve Orthwein’s Hazard was selected as Best Playing Pony. PQ | 29
Marc Ganzi and Bob Daniels Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade and wife Daniela
Carlos Gracida Jr
Polito Pieres, Tomas Goti, Alejandra and Malcom Borwick, Pablo Mac Donough, Cheche Sporleder and Santiago Garrahan
Alejandro Viel Temperley and Enrique Zavaleta
Guillermo “Sapo� Caset
Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Julian Hipwpood
Guillermo and Rosendo Usandizaga with his lovely daughter Mercedes
Maria Rapetti, brother-in-law Nico Pieres with wife Angie and Marc Ganzi
Lia Leah Sevrain, Michael and Red Armour and Wayne Garrison
Jil Johnston Andres Weisz and sons
Fred Mannix
Cecilia and Tatiana Pieres and Rosario Salerno Piaget Cocktail Presentation
Piaget team and family with the Butler Handicup Cup
Camilo Bautista and his daugther with Eduardo Novillo Astrada jr
Rocio and Paco de Narvaez, with Scott Wood Johnny Redlich and Nick Manifold
Gillian Johnston with Miguel Novillo Astrada, wife Marina and daughter Mia
Chloe Bourgeois, Kelly Plato and Raquel Redfield
Carlos Gracida and Gonzalo Pieres Jr
Gaston Lisioli, Polito Pieres, Victor Vargas and Juan Martin Nero
Steve van Andel and the MacDonough family - Pablo and Mechi with their kids Milo and Olivia
Sugar Erskine & wife
Bo Derek
Fernando Iraola and wife Lola Figueras Lauren Duffy, Alain Riguidel and Larry Boland from Piaget USA
Agustina Fonda, Loli Terrera, Amalia Dorignac and India Herrera Umpire Matias Baibiene
Carlucho Arellano and wife Agustina Obregon
Julio Arellano with his mother and daughter Hope
Matias MacDonough, wife Clara and their kids
Pablo MacDonough’s son, Milo
Matias Mac Donough’s, son Fermin
From Sex and the City to Palm Beach, actor John Corbett
Polito Pieres
Fred Mannix, Gonzalo Pieres, Fred Mannix daugther, Marc Ganzi and Julian Mannix Commentator Tony Coppola
Bettina Bahlsen her daughter Anuschka and son Nikolai
Piaget models
Clarissa Echezarreta
Lorraine Casey, Ines, Sol and Maria Badiola with Melissa Ganzi
Clara Ferriauelo, Hilario’s Ulloa wife and her parents and dogs
Nick Roldan, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade and Martin Pepa
Outback 40-Goal Challenge
All-Star Polo match and Gala Supports
By Y.A. Teitelbaum. Photos by Photos by polographics.com WELLINGTON, FL (February 17, 2013) – In polo’s version of the All-Star Game, many of the world’s best players got together and put on a fantastic show on the field and at the post-event VIP dinner for the annual Outback 40-Goal Challenge presented by Nespresso Saturday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Gonzalito Pieres scored four goals, including a rare two-pointer, to lead Equus & Co. over EFG Bank 7-3 in the annual event, the ninth time it has been held at IPC. The all-star exhibition game featured seven of the world’s eight 10-goalers. Ten-goaler Juan Martin Nero missed the game because he is still recovering from elbow surgery in December. He was replaced by 9-goaler Julio Arellano, who grew up in Wellington and is currently the highest-rated American player. Pieres’ 90-yard forehand early in the fourth chukka earned him the Grey Goose Long Shot of the Game Award. Two points were awarded for goals longer than 80-yards. Grey Goose, the world’s best tasting vodka, designed a specialty drink for the occasion and had the Grey Goose Girls handing out free samples throughout the match. Facundo Pieres, Pelon Stirling and Miguel Novillo Astrada each scored one goal for Equus & Co. Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo MacDonough and Arellano scored one goal apiece for EFG Bank. 34 | PQ
The game also marked the return of Sapo Caset, who was playing in his first game in the U.S. after being hospitalized in Argentina with a serious staph infection last April. Caset spent six days in a medicallyinduced coma but fully recovered and began playing in mid-September. Malaquita, ridden by Facundo Pieres, received the Best Playing Pony Award, sponsored by Aon. After the game, a sold-out VIP dinner courtesy of Tim Gannon and Outback Steakhouse was held in the Pavilion with a who’s who of players, patrons and fans attending the largest post-event affair in the history of the 40-Goal Challenge. Nespresso offered a variety of specialty coffees at the invitation-only post-event dinner. Proceeds from the gate, the VIP dinner as well as a silent and live auction benefits the Polo Players Support Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) which was created to provide financial assistance to seriously injured or ill polo players or grooms. So far, the PPSG has provided more than $1.5 million to 45 seriously injured or ill players and grooms. The top live auction items were Cambiaso’s autographed jersey, which sold for $25,000, a VIP package for the Breeder’s Cup for four people, a duck hunt at world-renowned Belleau Farm, and a week in Argentina playing polo with Mariano Aguerre.
Cambiaso Family: Adolfo Jr, Adolfo and Mia
Dave Offen, Keith Gapp, James Whisenand, Tim Gannon and Miss Florida 2013
Gonzalo Pieres Jr receiving award from James Whisenand
Guillermo “Sapo� Caset
Keith Gapp from EFG Bank and Adolfo Cambiaso
Andres Weisz Jr and Lucas Criado Jr
Miss Florida 2013 PQ | 35
Palm Beach Season 2013
Junior Polo in Palm Beach By James McCleavy • Photos by Janet Scheraga an PoloLine
Avendaño Memorial
It was a full day of Junior Polo on February 18th at the World Class International Polo Club to complete the 31st Avendano Memorial! 107 junior players from 2 to 15 years of age had a day of fun with family and friends! Lauren Biddle and Jonny Lavine, graduates of the Junior Polo Program, returned to coach the adorable leadline teams. Liliana Falcone received MVP in her first Avendano Memorial Appearance. Lorenzo Ramirez was awarded the prize for Sportsmanship, while
Joanna Monaco Cup
It was a beautiful day for polo in sunny Wellington Florida at the Grand Champions Polo Club on Monday Morning! A record 90 junior players ranging from 3 to 15 years old, took to the fields for a chance to win the coveted Joanna Monaco Trophy! We would like to give a very special thank you to the Ganzi Family for not only hosting this event, but also helping orchestrate all the details that make these events come together! Another very special thank you
36 | PQ
Ava Seward, the youngest ever Avendano participant at 2 years old, received the Best Playing Pony Prize for “Harry Potter.” The Patagones Polo Team took the 2013 Avendano Memorial. Victorino Ruiz received the Most Valuable Player award and the young horseman Agustin Arellano took the Best Playing Pony Award for his chestnut “Watermelon”. The Sportsmanship Award was presented to Carlos Martinez.
must go to Robin Sanchez and all the staff at the Polo School @ Grand Champions for all the hard work they put in not only before the event but all throughout the day! We would also like to thank Florrence Hessen, Perry Palmer, Janet Scheraga, Katie Connell, Christina Fernandez, Nicholas Snow, Dale Schwetz, Darrell Schwetz, Stan Thaemert, Chad Kramel, Mario Chiara and Juan Bollini!
PQ | 37
A zerbaijan
Back to the Roots Polo comes to Azerbaijan
With the first Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan the polo sport conquers the Republic of Azerbaijan in September 2013. The tournament in the capital Baku is held under the theme "Bringing polo home". In Central Eurasia lies the cradle of polo sport. Indeed in many places in Azerbaijan you can find the so called "Chovgan", but polo in its modern version has not been able yet to gain ground in the land at the Caspian Sea. Now polo returns back to its roots and Azerbaijan celebrates polo premiere. Themed "Bringing polo home", four international teams will be competing at the 1. Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan from September 6 to 8. The venue takes place at the recently constructed outdoor polo arena of the Elite Equestrian Centre in Baku. A friendly game between the team of Azerbaijan "Chovgan" and one of the participating international teams will be one of the tournaments highlights and is set up as memorization of polo roots in Azerbaijan. The tournament with a duration of three days will be presented by the food company Milla, the World Polo GmbH and other local partners are in charge of the production and organisation. Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan clearly aims to establish the polo sport in Azerbaijan. A huge vision and plan which is particularly pushed forward by one man: M. Ahadpur Khangah (picture). The 60-year old engineer and businessman discovered his passion for polo as a young man during his studies at Newcastle upon Tyne in England. Since then the fast sport captured and fascinated him. Now M. Ahadpur Khangah, who is also a big fan of Manchester 38 | PQ
United makes the upswing of polo in Azerbaijan comparable to the current passion for football in his home country. "Our visions are really ambitious. We need polo players, who represent Azerbaijan on the international playgrounds and we need teams, who can compete at the national as well as at the international level. In addition we work on extending the polo infrastructure, including international-sized polo fields which will allow us to hold competitions throughout the year. Considering the high number of sunny days in Azerbaijan, we see lots of perspective for holding such tournaments. Another important opportunity linked with this sport is to promote famous Karabakh horses known for their strength, toughness and sure-footedness. We know from history that Karabakh horses have won numerous awards and medals, and time has come to promote these famous horses outside Azerbaijan, once again". Baku is the biggest city with the highest density of population in the whole Caucasus region.
PQ | 39
World Polo Cup on Snow
Number 13 proved lucky this time As snow Polo took place once more atop St Moritz’s (thankfully) frozen lake, with Cartier taking the top spot By Aurora Eastwood • Photos by www.imagesofpolo.com • Social Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi This year also saw a return to a higher level of polo – 18 goal instead of 15 goal in 2011, as well as some patrons new to the venue and the snow. Hampshire Polo Team based patron Jonathan Munro-Ford took the trophy in his first snow polo tournament, beating BMW Polo Team by a single goal. The tried and tested combination of Chris Hyde and Nacho Gonzales was a winner; Chris being a master of playing polo in an arena and on snow. Ralph Lauren, with American (but predominantly UK based) patron Michael Bickford also fared well, with two Argentine players Marcos Araya and RL model Nacho Figueras, together with Michael’s long time compadre Jamie Morrison. The highest rated payer in the tournament was the epic Eduardo Novillo Astrada, off 9 goals.
Cartier Polo Team winner of St Moritz World Cup on Snow 2013
40 | PQ
Eduardo Novillo Astrada, high handicaped player of 2013
Jonathan Munro-Ford “This is my first time playing here and it has been spectacular. From the accommodation through to all the organisation of the St Moritz Polo Club right through to the organisation of the tournament. The players and team have been so close; anyone could have won it”.
MVP Chris Hyde: “We lost against these boys yesterday, even though we tried our hardest to beat them to help other teams get into the finals, so today we were so fired up to win. I think actually losing to them yesterday helped us. For the first 2 chukkas we really went at it and went 5 nil up. However, as every polo player knows if you get too much of a big lead things change, the momentum started going their way. They got a few fouls and a couple of good goals, and Lucas hit some amazing penalties at distance, which is not easy. They are a tough team, playing against three 6’s, it doesn’t get much harder than that in my eyes, unless you’re playing against Cambiaso! I think the best two teams were definitely in the final and definitely the best team won!” PQ | 41
Off the field, spectators turned heads, from opulent fur clad ladies to the occasional mad hatter in unusual dress, there was always something the eye was drawn to.
The Final Cartier had a slight advantage in the first chukka, and revved things up in the second, when they took a powerful 5-1 lead, led by an on-form Chris Hyde, very well supported by Nacho Gonzalez and Max Charlton. BMW made a comeback in the second, with two goals and a great team play by Andreas Kanpp Voith’s three pros, Lucas Labat, Bautista Ortiz de Urbina and Ignacio Tillous. By the start of the fourth and last chukka, Cartier had a 5-3 lead; but things got a bit difficult for Cartier as Lucas Labat scored for BMW, to cut the margin to one goal, 5-4 in favour of Cartier. BMW put the pressure on, with the idea to break Cartier’s defence, but Jonathan Munro Ford and his three British boys had another thing in mind, and displayed superb defensive work to block any goal attacks from BMW. Cartier fought hard to retain the victory and the coveted Richard Davis Marcos Araya
42 | PQ
Ignacio Tillous and Chris Hyde
trophy, a fantastic birthday present for one of the team members, Nacho Gonzalez.
Subsidiary Final Ralph Lauren and Sal. Oppenheim met to play for the third place. There was no rematch for Sal. Oppenheim, as they fell 4-3 to Ralph Lauren, who took third place. Leading 3-1 by the start of the fourth chukka, it seemed that a win for Michael Bickford’s team was safe, mostly after Jamie Morrison converted a penalty for a 4-1 lead. Far from giving up, Sal. Oppenheim put enough
pressure on, with Tarquin Southwell converting two penalties, to cut the margin to one goal, but that was it. Ralph Lauren had the win safe under their belts. St Moritz knows how to put on a show; meticulous preparation and organization, superb catering and hospitality, together with a well presented playing surface and fun outings for the teams each night; this really is the pinnacle of polo on snow. Much copied, never bettered.
PQ | 43
Guy Schwarzenbach and girlfriend Michelle
Michele and Reto Hunziker
Rafi Agosti and husband Nelson Semedo with Lauri and Adriano Agosti
Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr and wife Astrid Mu単oz
Patricia Habsburgo
Jonny Good and wife Sophie, Bettina Balhsen and Roddy Williams
44 | PQ
Alexandra and Igor Akhmerov
Ana Clara Cozzi and Michael Schumacher
Adriano Agosti and wife Lauri with their son Kiran and daughter Angelina
Cartier Team and friends Chic people in St Moritz
Neil and Lisa Hobday
Mateo Zecca, Jay Gotlieb and Luca Zecca
Tamara Bartoletta and Andrea Crotta
Max Charlton
Krisztina Zimmerman, Nicole Pandiscia-Hasler, Barbara Sassi and Uwe Zimmerman
Nacho Figueras and son Hilario
Raphael Zimmermann, Alida Canal Du Comet, Mr and Ms Augustin Clement Fronemtel Urs Schwarzenbach
Bettina von Bulow and Carsten Kahl
Andreas Knapp Voith
PQ | 45
Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series
16 Carat Gold By Gonzalo Echeverry • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi
Habtoor Polo and Ghantoot Polo dominated a season that shone both on and off the field. Four seasons ago Mohammed Al Habtoor, patron of Habtoor Polo, initiated a crusade with the principal aim of putting polo in Dubai on the world map. Now, talking of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (DPGCS) is synonymous with a high level of polo, established organisations, high profile players, competitiveness and a great spectacle.
46 | PQ
Every year the season is more professional and more appealing. 2013 saw the level raised to 16 goals. This brought names such as Nachi Heguy, Facundo Sola, Juan Jose Brane, Salvador Ulloa and Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario to name but a few. To those names were added the patrons who took a punt and improved their organisations - all of which led to a vastly improved level of polo and horses, with two very competitive tournaments, the Silver and Gold Cup.
Gold Cup The big trophy went to Ghantoot Polo, who deservedly won the Gold Cup following a victory over Habtoor Polo of 14-6. They were favourites going in and not only did they not disappoint, they showed their best game in the final. When the pressure was almost stifling, led by the unbowed Facundo Sola against the big hitters (Bin Drai and Habtoor) Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club took the main prize. Sola understood perfectly his team mates Juan Zubiaurre, a young and talented player and Pelayo Berazadi, an intelligent player who in Dubai showed the quality he has. Added to this team was Ali Al Merri, a 1 goal player who was effective with every ball he got. The knowledge of Hugo Barabucci and the vision of Oscar Colombres made for a quartet that made the most of the key moments of the season.
Silver Cup Habtoor Polo Team was the other main protagonist of the season. They won, also deservedly, the Silver Cup and were finalists in the Gold Cup. With Mohammed Al Habtoor demonstrating a noticeable improvement in his game and Guillermo Cuitiùo pushing from the back, Habtoor Polo went building their path to the trophy with effort and good polo, winning several games in extra time. John Horswell’s strategy from the pony lines and good execution of this strategy by the team, which included Ignacio Bello and Ezequiel Martinez, meant that Habtoor Polo Team concluded a very successful season in the DPGCS 2013. Bin Drai and Abu Dhabi deserve a mention for also being key parts of the season at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. Bin Drai won the subsidiary of the Gold Cup and was a finalist in the subsidiary of the Silver Cup. Abu Dhabi got to the final of the Silver Cup and were finalists in the final of the subsidiary of the Gold Cup.
PQ | 47
Facundo Sola and Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario
THE VOICES OF VICTORY “We played well and we’ve had a good season. I’m very happy about playing in a team like Ghantoot. In truth we didn’t think the game would pan out like this. At the beginning of the game we were and bit disjointed and I told the boys to calm down, that we needed a bit of patience and then the plays started coming to us, we were lucky and we made the most of opportunities at goal.” Facundo Sola, Ghantoot Polo Team.
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“We analysed the game a lot with Hugo and Oscar and all of us had worked very hard and luckily we could apply everything on the field. Coming to Dubai, playing the Gold Cup and winning was an excellent experience.” Juan Zubiaurre, Ghantoot Polo Team. “It was a spectacular tournament and we are so pleased to have won the Gold Cup. In the semifinals we had a good game against Bin Drai and won well so we knew that if we played well and organised ourselves we could win – however it wasn’t easy and we had to work hard.” Pelayo Berazadi, Ghantoot Polo Team.
“Finally after four years we won the Silver Cup. It was a hard game in the final, we did our best and we deserved to win. This was the fourth game of the tournament we won in extra time, but I always felt we were going to win. It was difficult, but when Ezequiel scored that goal it was fantastic. Finally we did it. I still cant believe it!” Mohammed Al Habtoor, Habtoor Polo Team.
“It took a lot, we fought tooth and nail and with heart. Four games were won in extra time, but we won and we are very happy to take the Silver cup. When I saw the ball cross the goal line I felt tremendous happiness. They key was with the “Buena onda” that the team has, and this positive attitude influenced our games.” Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Habtoor Polo Team.
PQ | 49
Guillermo Cuitiño and Manuel Elizalde
THOUGHTS FROM THE SEASON “The Dubai Polo Season is a step in the right direction.” Amr Zedan, patron of Zedan Polo Team “I think if you look back there has been a quantum leap in the level of players, horses, media support, so now everyone knows the season in Dubai.” Faris Al Yabouni, patron of Abu Dhabi Polo Team. “It’s a season that is great for all the professionals. If they can improve the grounds, or build a few more, this will keep growing and become a reference point for polo at this time of year.” Facundo Sola, Ghantoot Polo Team 50 | PQ
“The growth of polo in Dubai is partly due to the great enthusiasm from Mohammed, plus the support of the other patrons. The polo grows year on year and the path of the development of the polo here continues to evolve.” Guillermo Cuitiño, Habtoor Polo Team “The circuit is great, with various tournaments and lots of polo. The patrons are improving their horses and their organisations. There aren’t as many teams as there could be, but those that there are, are very level and competitive.” Juanchi Ambroggio, Abu Dhabi Polo Team
NUMBERS OF DPGCS “I’d heard a lot about Dubai and had wanted to come got ages. That said, I was still surprised by the good level of polo, incredible infrastructure, horses, the amount of new patrons and the enthusiasm that they have for the season. Its an ideal spot for polo and for sure will keep on growing.” Pelayo Berezadi, Ghantoot Polo Team “If you don’t come you wont believe it. It’s a spectacular place where you have everything; good polo, beaches, desert, shopping centres. The climate is great, everyone comes with their families and has a great time. It’s a pleasure to be here in Dubai.” Salvador Ulloa, Bin Drai Polo Team
26 6 4
goals scored by Facundo Sola in the DPGCS 2013, making him top scorer. Ezequiel M. Ferrario scored 21 and Juan Jose Storni 19.
goals scored by Faris Al Yabouni, made him top Amateur scorer of the DPGCS 2013. Ali Al Merri scored 5 and Mohammed Al Habtoor 4.
games won in extra time, including the final, by Habtoor Polo Team, to obtain the Silver Cup 2013. Over 5 games played. PQ | 51
Cristina Gusita and Cristina Pisaulungeanu
Erin Gray, Jon Bamford and Michael Wozney
Emma Kreiter, Hasan Nasreddin, Ali Al Marri, Nasse Al Hajri and kids
Ben McGregor and Susana Colmenar
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed Bin Rashi Al Maktoum
Esteban Ferrari, Peter Wright and Jason Dixon
Ignacio Llorente, Isa Arguelles de Orueta, Borja Vela and Maria Carbonera
Duncan and Natalie Field
Susan Hoare and Roman Fortunato
Kareem Qassim and Ahmed Alghurair
Bin Baker
Alice Garmond, Florencia Bertora, Ines Benincasa, Carolina Bulacios and Astrid Petracchi
Happy Saeed Bin Drai with family and friends after a great win
Faris Al Yabhouni, Pelayo Berazadi with Simon Brane, Mubarak Al Yahbouni, Ahmed Aboughazale, Hugo Barabucci, Nasser Al Dhaheri, and Juan Zubiaurre
Sebastian Amaya, Faris Al Yabhouni, Mohammed Al Habtoor and Hugo Barabucci
The Zedan team, with family and friends
Nasser Al Shamsi, Ramon Pallone, Brigitta and Felicitas Dagustin
Hamza Al-Amoodi and Alice Garmond
The Habtoor guys and friends
Mubarak Al Yabhouni and Facu Sola join one of Dubai’s coolest dudes, Ali Al Yabhouni
Laura McConnon, Georgia Pile with baby John, Bella Legard and Daniella Middleton
Rashid Al Habtoor, Arm Zedan, Humaid Bin Drai and Khalaf Al Habtoor
Timur Tezisler and Benedetta
Gioqui Capria, Kithan Bin Drai, Julieta Capria and Geraldin Stornini with her lovely baby Salvita
Juan Jos Brane, his wife Mara and their kids Pedro, Juana and Simon
Kareem Qassim, Maxi Malacalza and Dr Abbar
Rashid Al Habtoor and his guests at the BBQ Dinner in his house at The Palm
Mohammed A l Habtoor
“Things in Dubai are done in bigger sizes and better quality” By Gonzalo Etcheverry • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi PQ was in Dubai interviewing Mohammed Al Habtoor, Founder of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series & patron of Habtoor Polo Team. The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2013 came to an end. Once again this event that brings to the UAE the best polo was a great success and PQ wanted to know from it’s founder and CEO, Mohammed Al Habtoor, the balance and thoughts from the season that just ended. This year the teams were completely different, with the handicap increased to 16 goals, all the teams had new horses, best organizations, good players and it was a very competitive tournament. In Habtoor Polo we´ve done really well, playing really hard, winning the Silver Cup, playing six extra times during the Silver & Gold Cup, and also reaching the final of the Gold Cup. This tournament, comparing to other tournaments of the same handicap, it´s more competitive than any other in the world. That´s what I heard from all the polo players and patrons this year. The say it´s really challenging and the good thing is that every team wants to win the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series.
Present & Future of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series Three years before starting the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series in 2010 I was trying to get all the patrons together, to take part in the tournament. You know politics in polo are a little bit complicated all around the world, but by creating the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series I managed to put all the patrons together and made everybody get together as a team and be more friendly with each other. Also to get a fair competition and fair play with everyone and I´m so proud about it - I also thank all the patrons for supporting me. Before we started the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series the patrons had only a few horses and they brought professionals only to play practices and some exhibitions. Today all the patrons and the teams had put their names on the polo map worldwide. Everyone knows Habtoor Polo in the world, everybody in the world now knows Bin Drai Polo, Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi, Zedan, Mahra. You can see that all the patrons had bought between 8 to 17 horses this year to play the 2013 season. For next year I´ve already been approached by two teams that want to participate in the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series. One is from South Africa and the other one is from Dubai, Sheikha Maitha who wants to put a team in the tournament. She wants to play and it will be a great name to have in the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series. This tournament is getting bigger and bigger although I try not to push very high handicap and my objective is to reach a maximum of 20 goals. Next year if all the patrons agree I want to increase the handicap to 18. Things in Dubai are done in a bigger size and better quality. Mohammed Al Habtoor also explained that for the next year the idea is to play the tournament on several 54 | PQ
fields and already Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club offered to host some matches of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series. “This year we had one match played at Desert Palm, Ghantoot also offered to play on their great fields so hopefully next year we are having two fields at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club and maybe Desert Palm, that makes 10 fields where we can play. The only thing sure is that the final will be played at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club”.
Habtoor Polo Team This was a great season for Habtoor Polo Team and Mohammed is glad about it. After years of hard work finally the team reached the best level by winning the Gold Cup last year and the Silver Cup in this edition. When the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series started Mahra won the trophy, in 2011 it was Abu Dhabi´s turn, last year we took the Gold Cup, so to win a Silver or Gold Cup doesn´t come just overnight. You have to build up with horses, me as a patron playing from 6 to 16 goals handicap also takes time, to understand the speed of the game and the players. I have Guillermo Cuitiño as the captain of my team for four years and he understands me and I understand him. We brought really good players, we won tournaments and I trust his choice for players and the horses. But also, if you want to win, you do not stay away from your horses and your team and come just for the day of the game and jump on the horse. Good results come after effort and interest in what you’re doing. I speak with my players every day, with Guillermo all time and then I go to the stables, I ask for every horse, talk with the vet, I like to make sure that everything is alright and know all the details. Guillermo is doing a good job and we have confidence on his work. We are speaking to bring more high level horses for next year because if I want to play the 18 and 20 goals handicap in the future I need to play the horses from know and have them ready for the next level.
The UAE Polo Association “I spoke to all the patrons, or the main patrons, and we agreed we have to create a Federation to control polo because it´s a little bit loose. The only time that polo´s controlled is during the Silver, Gold and the President´s Cup. So therefore I had issued a letter to the Ministry of Sport and Youth and they called me back saying it was ok and that they need to create a board for the Association, so I suggested the names for the Board, with all the patrons being part of it. I hope that we can have it set up before we start the next polo season in Dubai”, finally explained Mohammed Al Habtoor.
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Guillermo Cuitiño
Polo’s indomitable man By Gonzalo Etcheverry • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi “When I started with Mohammed, he had the smallest organization and not many horses, but bit by bit we organized ourselves. We brought more horses and luckily they adapted well and we have had some good results on the pitch in the last couple of years, winning the Gold Cup in 2012, the “Polo in the Palace” in Abu Dhabi and the Silver Cup this year. We got on well from the beginning; he’s an enthusiastic guy, who has done a lot for the polo in Dubai. He loves polo, the horses and everything associated with it. He’s put a lot into the sport, every year he improves and knows exactly what he is doing, having played 16 and 20 goal in Dubai and the UK. The tournament he started, the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, is growing each year. The first time I played it was 12 goal, now its 16 with the idea of going up further”.
The season in Dubai
Guillermo Cuitiño started as a young player as one of the great Bauti Heguy’s pilots on his young horses. From there he never stopped; Argentina, England, Dubai, India, China, Pakistan, Spain to name but a few. Where there is polo there is Guillermo Cuitino, an indomitable player, consummate professional and great person. “Since I started as a pilot for Bauti I’ve travelled for over 20 years. I put every single thing into this sport that I love and I’ve been learning since a young boy. In all those countries I’ve played in I’ve made the most of every moment. I put a lot of energy and enthusiasm into every new project that appears” said Cuitiño. He has been playing in Dubai for the last five seasons for Mohammed Al Habtoor, one of the most important patrons in the UAE and a man largely responsible for the annual growth in polo in Dubai. 56 | PQ
“It starts in October with some practices. It’s impossible to play sooner due to the heat. From there we plan the season and organize the horses and teams for the Dubai Gold Cup Polo Series”. Guillermo Cuitiño thinks it’s very important that the patrons understand well what it takes to set up a good organization, in that both the horses and the players need to perform in the best way possible. "Mohammed understands and gets involved. I appreciate all the trust he places in me. His playing and horsemanship has improved so much and he really knows what a good horse is.” Aware that arming a strong team and good horses is no easy task, Cuitiño confesses: “I do feel the pressure sometime but luckily things have turned out well. I appreciate the trust but realize that its not enough to do things well, you need a little luck too. We aren’t an unbeatable team, but we are on a roll and the horses are going really well. The worked really well too; a bit like horses, as captain you try something, analyse it and see might work better.
good team team what
When I chose Nacho Bello I knew the calibre of player he was, he’d played a lot in Europe and I knew his style, strengths and his personality. We lived together for three months so the human aspect is vital. I knew Ezequiel Martinez from having played against him twice and suffered! When Fran Elizalde said he couldn’t come this year I called Ezequiel in a flash. I knew he was the player we needed, he’s a good guy and a fierce and talented player.”
The growth of polo in Dubai Guillermo doesn’t deny that Dubai has a polo season with a big future and can be a direct competitor to Palm Beach. “We aren’t far off Palm Beach when you take into account that the polo here is growing every year, and that we have a high standard of player, like Nachi Heguy, Facundo Sola, Salva Ulloa, JJ Brane, Juanchi Ambroggio and Ezequiel Ferrario, this symbolises the evolution of the polo in Dubai. Next year the Dubai Gold Cup Polo Series will be 18 goal. Mohammed thinks it will get to 20 or 22 goal and I think it will. Part of the growth of polo here is down to Mohammed’s enthusiasm as well as the support of the other patrons; his brother Rashid, Faris Al Yabouni, Amr Zedan, Saeed Bin Drai, Ghantoot and Stuart Rigley. They add enthusiasm and want the same as Mohammed, that is to increase the level and depth of the season in Dubai.
Everyone knows Dubai is increasingly popular as a tourist destination and is a fun, enjoyable place with a good climate, and in these areas surpasses Palm Beach. Plus a lot of us players come with our families and it’s a lovely place to share with them.” At the end of the interview Cuitino said "My objetives are always to do things well in the places I work. This implies a commitment to the patron and to myself with regards the selection of the horses and the players. It doesn’t end with a win, but to go on working as I have been, with the same enthusiasm and good will as I have always had. That is the path to take. Obviously winning the Silver Cup was great, it was a big challenge with new horses and players and luckily it paid off. If you ask me what I want from the future, it is to continue working well and doing things in the best way I can, this is more important that any particular victory.” PQ | 57
Juan A mbroggio
Talent lands in Dubai By Gonzalo Etcheverry • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi PQ had the chance to interview Juanchi Ambroggio, one of the top players of the UAE Polo Season.
Juan Ambroggio, one of Abu Dhabi’s key players, landed in Dubai this season for the first time. His opinions of it so far? Positive. “I’m delighted that I came to Dubai. It’s a cool city, with lots to do and the lifestyle is excellent. From a sporting perspective it has been a very positive season.” Ambroggio arrived in Dubai through Hugo Barabucci, but only met his other team mates when he rode on to the field. “The team we have built has worked out realy well. I didn’t know the boys (Manuel Elizalde and Juan Jose Storni) but we soon all got a long really well, and they are great players. It was easy to adapt as they are great guys and we had a lot of fun. The patron (Faris Al Yabouni) is very good and very welcoming; he made us feel at home.” Juanchi says of the Dubai polo scene: “Its getting better year on year in every sense. The circuit is very good, with lots of tournaments and lots of polo. The patrons are improving as are their horses and their setups. What there aren’t enough of is teams, but the ones they have are very competitive.
58 | PQ
They still need to improve the pitches, as it’s a weak point amongst every thing else and could lead to another team coming along, because there are patrons who are capable of compiling teams and lots of people playing.” For Ambroggio: “Dubai was an attractive alternative to Palm Beach. Not as a direct competitor but it’s a pretty place, with a good climate and good polo, plus the city has lots to do when there is no polo. Hopefully more patrons will come and the season will go on growing.” The polo calendar will take Juanchi to England and then most likely Sotogrande in August and Chantilly in September, where he plays every year. “Last year my handicap went up and this year will be tough. Handicap changes are always hard for a normal player and unless you are a machine it always complicates things a little until you settle into it and the patron trusts you. I don’t have my own patron so you depend a little on someone who has faith in you and you kick on. However the first year in a new handicap is always one of transition.”
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Faris A l Yabouni
“I want to be an added
value for the team”
By Gonzalo Etcheverry. Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi.
all these people here. You are the host and you try to do the best so they can have a good time and that reflects on you and on your country. In Argentina my polo friends are even better than Faris here!.
Polo in the UAE and Abu Dhabi Polo Team challenges
Abu Dhabi Polo Team, of patron Faris Al Yabouni, is one of the most recognized polo organizations in the UAE. The violet shirt team is always present in the Dubai Polo Season and the rest of the important trophies played in the UAE such as the Cartier Trophy and Ghantoot President´s Cup. With his usual simpathy and hospitality, Faris Al Yabouni received PQ in his stables at Desert Palm. Enjoying the typical arab tea we started a long conversation about polo, his organization, Dubai and the future of polo in the UAE.
Starting the season “We have a plan with the team and the organization”, says Faris Al Yabouni. “We have about 30 horses, starting on the beginning of september slowly putting them back to shape. By the time november comes the horses are in good shape, playing practices and start the fitness of the competition, so when the tournaments start we have the horses in a good level”. About the making up of team, Faris says, “I usually go to Argentina, I love it, I have a lot of friends there, the polo and the food are fantastic and we go there to scout the players. We usually know what we want and Hugo (Barabucci) helps me a lot with that. But I always like to go, to meet them in person, talk with them an after Palermo we decide the make up of the team." "We have a certain filosofy for the team, the players have to be nice people and then good players.”
Why everybody likes Faris? “I think Faris is simple. I´m close to people, that´s all I could say. The players are like a family when they are here in Dubai and I try to be nice with everyone. That´s the way I am, I´m natural and I´m happy to have 60 | PQ
“The UAE is a big horse industry, were you have the polo segment who had a lot of improvement in the last three years, best horses, polo level and organization. The tournaments we have I consider them the best in this part of the world, we are happy and we are supporting them. I think if you look years back there has been a quantum leap in level of players, horses, media support, so now everyone knows about the polo season in Dubai. There are a few things to improve but we´re going on the right direction. One of the main objectives is to create a Polo Association. It´s a formula, to have a government to look after the sport, in order to have a good fair play, to know there are rules and regulations, like in every country. I think we are trying to activate it and hopefully next year with all the other patrons we will put it together." "As far as Abu Dhabi Polo Team and Faris, I love the sport, I´m passionate for polo, it gets people together in a very competitive way. As a personal objective I would like to improve my polo level for sure, I want to win trophies and I want to be an added value for the team. Usually they see the patrons as people who just hold the stick and go riding on the horse around the field. I always try to be a team member and listen to what the captain says and try to learn and improve. So far in the past years the results are coming, I was the MVP of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2012, thanks to PoloLine and PQ for the award and the support, and this year thank god I was the MVP of the Silver Cup. I always believe that this sport connects people and that is what I want, to have friendly competitons with the friends of the other teams. We have long way to go. Players are coming and feeling the UAE and Dubai as a good destination for polo. I think we have a few short comings, create the Polo Association, the infrastructure for playing good polo with new fields, we need to put several things together. With a few years of support and concentration from the teams and even the government we can reach a great level. We cannot compete at this stage with Palm Beach because they are a polo destination for the best polo players but if we could achieve in the few years we could be a really interesting polo spot in the international calendar.”
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A mr Z edan
“The Dubai Polo Season is a
step in the right direction” By Gonzalo Etcheverry
When he started playing polo, sporadically in 2002 and mostly because of his love of horses and sport, he never imagined that Zedan Polo was going to be one of the most important polo organizations in the UAE. These days, Amr Zedan is a constant and passionate polo player and his team, Zedan Polo, is one of the important teams that takes part in the UAE polo season. Amr Zedan received PQ in his stables at Desert Palm to talk about his beginnings, his love for the sport and his future plans with Zedan Polo. “I started playing polo in 2002, it was just sporadic polo. At that time I had to focus on work and polo was not my principal objective but I started knowing more about the sport and trying to find what I wanted to do with polo. Polo is a luxury you do after you settle down with work and luckily we´ve been doing really well and we´ll be playing polo here and there. 62 | PQ
Between 2005 and 2009 I just played exhibitions in England but from 2009 when I met Rodolfo (Ducos) we decided to do something together because I really wanted to go further with the polo”.
I just want to keep playing and try to do better as far as I can. I would like to go up to 2 goals but I know I have to work hard. Amr chose polo, among other sports, because of his love of horses and the relationship of the sport with business. “I always wanted to do something with horses. I tried several things but polo was the sport that I like the most, although my soccer is much better than my polo!.
When I was young I associated polo with business and that, with my passion for sports, made me decide to play polo. It´s just addictive. It´s hard and sometimes frustrating because no matter how hard you try is difficult to be like the professionals, we just have to believe that we have to keep on trying. Polo gives you the opportunity to build up friendship and play in several countries. And to be honest, and I say it with pride, I owe it all to Rodolfo, he´s the perfect manager, more than a friend, we´re almost family, I consider his family as mine, he´s my boss when it comes to polo (he insists on including that word). When you don´t really know what you are doing to have the best manager is really important. And I also have to thank Ali Albwardy for giving me the opportunity to come to Desert Palm, to learn polo, his hospitality, to use a lot of the club horses. If it wasn´t for his iniciative and building this lovely place I wouldn`t had the chance to play polo.”
pushing me and we look forward to continue growing and be an important part of polo in Dubai. Since two years ago, Nachi Heguy, one of the best polo players in the world takes part in the UAE polo season playing for Zedan Polo. About the importance having such an experienced polo player in his team, Amr says, “It´s a nice feeling to be able to play with someone like Nachi and the rest of the best polo players. At the same time is a team and sometimes you do something that´s really good and they congratulate you and you feel really good about it. Basically we wanted to assemble a good team and Rodolfo suggested bringing Nachi and we did it. It was a great move for me and for Dubai. I learnt a lot of things from Nachi, there are things that you don´t really recognize till they happen and with Nachi that happened. My tactics changed, he told me a couple of tips that help to improve my polo and having him on the team is a step in the right direction.
Zedan organization and Nachi Heguy
Other improtant subjects came to the conversation with Amr Zedan. The future of polo in the UAE and a new polo Association were one of those relevant items he talked about during the interview with PQ. “The Dubai polo season is growing very well. I think is a step in the right direction and we have to thank Mohammed Al Habtoor for having the determination, organization and ability to put this thing together, including it on the tour and establishing the Silver and Gold Cup in the international polo calendar.
Everybody tells me that Zedan Polo has contributed to raise the polo level in Dubai. After bringing Nachi Heguy and buying new horses we contributed to that. Half of the horses we have, had played the Argentinean Open and all the mares played the Open so we have quality horses. We also got the Best Playing Polo last year and we won the UAE President Cup. So everybody comes and thanks me but it´s not me, it´s all Rodolfo´s work. Rodolfo had the vision, he keeps
Dubai Polo Season and future polo Association
PQ | 63
I also think the time has come to create a Polo Association, with a board of directors where all the patrons are members, so it becomes a Dubai Polo Association Tournament. This is just a suggestion. We take everything from a person, in this case Mohammed, to an organization where everybody will contribute to the organization and that becomes the oversight organization of the polo in Dubai or perhaps in the UAE. And then we can develop it and make things more professional. We suggested it to Mohammed, he´s a dear friend so we can sit down and talk about it. To be very fair, Mohammed has been always open to what all the other patrons suggest so I think this could be something to be improved. Another of the good things that we can do once we create the Polo Association is to play tournaments in different clubs, like Arabian Ranches, Desert Palm, Ghantoot, etc. It will be better for everyone. We need more fields, to manage to build two or three new fields, play here and there.”
We are thinking what we will do after the President´s Cup in Ghantoot. Maybe England, we are also thinking of Sotogrande, but now we are focused with Rodolfo on the President´s Cup and after that we´re going to sit and make decisions. 64 | PQ
Obviously I need the right advice and the best manager and I started a little bit late with that, because Rodolfo came in 2009, but better late than never. To be honest, what do I regret is not buying horses earlier, about two or three years ago.
aron de Rothschild certainly was inspired when he organized back in the 1920’s, the first polo match precisely on the territory where «Le Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly» is located today.
© Dufour
D
© Antoine Delaporte
B
© Antoine Delaporte
Chantilly Polo Club… A Unique Experience within your reach…
uring our polo season, you can play in the numerous tournaments that are organized including women’s polo and junior polo. Schedules on www.poloclubchantilly.com
Patrick GUERRAND-HERMÈS, founder of the Polo Club together with his crew has successfully integrated the club into this «green ocean» situated in the heart of the domain forest of Chantilly castle :
May-June : 0-2 / 4-6 / 6-8 / 10-12 goals July : Ladies Polo Cup Paris - 0-4 / 4-6 / 8-10 goals September : 0-4 / 6-8 / French Open 14-16 goals 2nd Open de France Féminin Chopard
220 hectares - 150 hectares of pasture land 320 players - 700 horses in high season 500 matches per year - 44 tournaments
The Polo school is open to every level polo players from beginners to expert. The Pony Club welcomes children from 3 years old, with pony polo, riding lessons. Quality polo ponies are available for rent at the club.
Fields matching the International Polo specifications : 1 «honor field» in «fiber» 8 competitions grass fields 2 «all weather» sand fields 20 professionals
Contact : +33 3 44 64 04 30 secretariat@poloclubchantilly.com
L’abus d’alcool est dangeureux pour la santé. Consommez avec modération
© Antoine Delaporte
© Antoine Delaporte
AND ESPECIALY FOR THE 2nd OPEN DE FRANCE FÉMININ CHOPARD
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Ghantoot R acing & Polo Club
The HH President Cup completes the UAE Triple Crown
By Gonzalo Etcheverry • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi & Gonzalo Echeverry Bin Drai beat Zedan in the final; Ghantoot took the subsidiary cup Bin Drai Polo Team took the HH President of the UAE Cup, organised by Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, beating Zedan 9-8 in an intense final. The tournament had a conclusion befitting the level, with a superb final, exemplary organisation by Ghantoot and events and displays to accompany the end of the tournament. Bin Drai made their intentions clear from the beginning of the tournament that denotes the end of the season in the UAE. 66 | PQ
After having almost taken the wares at the Silver Cup, the team led by Juanjo Brane and Salvador Ulloa made it their goal to win the President’s Cup. And they did it. They displayed a very high level of polo, with a double act that understood one another to perfection, together with superb support from Ignacio Ithurburu and Rashid Bin Drai, they were incredibly quick to react when the pressure was on. They were really put to the test when they met Ghantoot in the final qualifier. They entered the fourth and final chukka losing 10-5, and ended up winning
PQ | 67
Juan Jose BranĂŠ, Ali Al Merri, Ignacio Ithurburu and Juan Zubiarre
68 | PQ
Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club was founded in 1994 due to the vision of His Majesty Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and is now run by his son, his Majesty Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nayhan. Only 40 minutes from Abu Dhabi and 15 from Dubai Marina, Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club occupies a 300 ha estate and included some world class polo fields. There are 8 polo fields, three of which are floodlit. The main ground Royal Grand Stand and Sheikh Zayed Polo Field has a 2000 capacity grandstand, a VIP area, business centre, catering and hospitality. Pitch One, where the final of the Presidents Cup 2013 was played has a modern club house, which offers premium views over the field and has a large terrace, restaurant, swimming pool and gym, as well as other services and mod cons. Added to which are 300 world class stables, all air conditioned; 60 stables exclusively for breeding boxes racehorses, and 240 temporary boxes. The breeding centre at Ghantoot is unique in the UAE. To conclude, Ghantoot offers 300 hectares, a superb infrastructure of sporting facilities, services and five star accommodation for guests – a unique environment in between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
in extra time 11-10. It was clear that Bin Drai wanted that cup. To win it they had to beat a team that had come from a long and successful season – Zedan. The formation that included Nachi Heguy had a good run in the tournament and deserved a place in the final.
The conclusion Bin Drai and Zedan played a great game, with a high level of play and intensity throughout the final. Both teams pegged goal after goal practically throughout all five chukkas. They alternated the lead and just when it looked like Bin Drai had it in the bag (7-5), Zedan came back, and the great Nachi Heguy leveled the scores. On those last 7 minutes it was Zedan who passed the posts with a penalty from Nachi, but Bin Drai, used to comebacks, kept fighting, and led by Salva Ulloa, they turned the tide and took the title, 9-8.
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Mariano Uranga, Guillermo Cuitinio, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Nachi Heguy and Nacho Bello
Leo Vera and Veronica Velasco
Hani Habbas,Michelle Morphew and Matar Al Yabhoun
Anna Grishchenko, Antonio Rubel, Nasser Al Shamsi and Felicitas Dagostin
George Costoulas and Iphigenia Rocana
Dr. Bachar Kridi and Nasser Al Shamsi
H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Chic girls at Ghantoot
Stephanie Grasset, Alessandro Mungari, Andrea Spadola, Eddah Wanyoike and Safi Sangare Ghantoot and friends
Lord and Lady Harboroug, Leo Bilesebejer and Zarife Hosseini Gioqui Capria, Khitan and Alia Bin Drai cheering the Bin Drai boys
Hasan Nasser and Ramon Pallone
Mozie Abdulla, Mohammed Bin Drai and Rashid Alahmad Mario Gonzalez, Clara Malbran, Rodolfo Ducos, and Karina Pinero
Arash Soltanieh and Habtoor Al Habtoor
Oscar Colombres and golfer Alan Johnson
UK A rena Season
The highlights of a very cold and wet arena season! HPA National Club Championships
Womens National Championships
15 goal Cold Smoke narrowly overcame Black Eagles by a single goal in extra time, 20-19. Michael Bickford teamed up with long time friend Jamie Morrison and Dean Lines, taking on the formidable team of Jonathan Munro Ford, Chris Hyde and Howard Smith, the latter both masters of arena polo. Chris played arena off 9 goals and is a force to be reckoned with in more ways than one! It was not until the last chukka that Cold Smoke took the lead, thanks to Jamie and Dean, but Howard regained the lead for his team with only minutes to go, only for Michael to score for Cold Smoke, and it was Michael himself who scored the winning goal in the 5th (extra) chukka. MVP went to Chris Hyde
6 goal
2 goal and 0 goal level – and Déjà vu in both!
Jonathan Munro Ford has his day though; beating Hedonism by 22 goals to 20. The team surnames were unchanged from their 15 goal lineup; Munro Ford, Smith, Hyde, but this time, it was Jack, Chris’s son. MVP went to Howard Smith
Ascot Park - In the showcase 2 goal level, the final with Pink Power (featuring Charlotte Sweeney) beat Team USN (featuring Hazel Jackson) in a penalty shoot out following a tight, even game. MVP went to Lucy Bowman BPP went to 18 year old Matilda, owned by Chris Benford and played by Charlotte Sweeney.
Arena Gold Cup, RCBPC Another final, another appearance for Munro Ford No win this time however; it was Tally Ho farm who took the title, beating Black Eagles by 17-14. Tally Ho comprised Seb Dawnay, Oscar Mancini and Greg Greening. In the Silver Cup (subsidiary) final, Michael Bickford’s (another regular finalist) Cold Smoke beat Druids Lodge by 21 goals to 17. 72 | PQ
The 0-goal final was between La Republica Czeka (featuring Hazel Jackson again) and Sau Wild (featuring Charlotte Sweeney – again!). This time Jackson came out on top, with a 16-10 victory. MVP went to Geneveive Meadows BPP wnet to Merader, owned by Phil Meadows and played by Hazel Jackson.
Hickstead Test Match No foreign team this year; England took on (and beat) the British Isles
Clogau 12-Goal Challenge In the warm up game, Wales beat the Commonwealth by a single goal (18-17) in extra time, thanks to a goal by Pete Webb.
Photos by PoloLine and www.imagesofpolo.com
The USA, who are really the only other country to play arena polo on a large scale, did not send a team this year (perhaps they got tired of losing!). So; a team comprised of players from the outer regions of Britain took on the mighty England. It was the 6th time that England have won this test match, and not really surprising when Chris Hyde was at the helm. Teamed with Roddy Williams and Tarquin Southwell, both of whom draw excited squeals from girls on the sidelines, formed a very tough trio for the British Isles to overcome. And they didn’t manage it. England beat the other boys (Jamie Morrison, Seb Dawnay and Maurice Ormerod) by a largeish margin of 20-14. Even though the British Isles had taken an early lead, Chris Hyde wielded his Thor’s Hammer and levelled the scores at half time. He dominated the rest of the game, and took MVP to boot.
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British Beach Polo Championship
Sandbanks Rocks the Beach Polo By Sally Stone. Photo by Lee Collier As a highlight of the South coast’s summer season, the British Beach Polo Championship will return for its sixth year on the 12/13th July 2013. Supported by some of the best arena polo players the hotly anticipated beach festival promises more excitement and glamour both on and off the pitch – with polo providing the platform for an array of activities and entertainment for the eclectic mix of guests to enjoy. Taking place at Sandbanks, Poole, Britain’s premier beach location 2013 will see England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales competing (3 on 3 at 14 arena goal) over the 2 days. There is floodlit night beach polo, visiting international polo teams and of course the ‘bonkers’ beach polo after parties. Arena polo is a spectacular spectator sport and played on a stunning Blue Flag beach (preferable sundrenched!) brings the very best out of the players and guests. Whether visitors pay for Hospitality, VIP or General Admission tickets, or just choose to sit outside the fence on the purpose built sand viewing banks it is a chance for polo to show off its attributes to about 5000 seasoned and new supporters each year. To complement the polo The British Beach Polo Championship offers a host of other activities such as ‘have a go’ polo, the Oakley International Beach Volleyball, fashion shows, the charity Audi V Polo Pony race and the vibrant retail
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village. The polo is an excuse to dress up (or strip off for a quick swim), stay up late and indulge. Founded by Johnny Wheeler and David Heaton-Ellis the publicity for the inaugural Championships in 2008 was kick started by Piers Morgan drawing people’s attention to Sandbanks as ‘Britain’s Monte Carlo’. Whilst sponsorship income has since been recalibrated new ideas such as camel polo (stand by for the elephants!), floodlit beach polo, equine displays and the appearance of the odd celebrity has kept people talking about the event. One of the biggest challenges for a non-tidal beach polo event where elaborate temporary infrastructure surrounds a boarded polo area is the depth of the playing surface. The sand is levelled, excavated by up to 2 foot and continuously watered to provide relatively firm footing. The polo is too slow if the sand is deeper than the fetlock. Polo is ‘transportable’ and taking it to a truly unique public location and making an effort to show the game off in the best possible way has proved extremely successful. The future for the event looks promising it is recession proof and as last year demonstrated it is water proof. With a steady rise in the popularity of the Championships it is extremely satisfying to see polo being enjoyed by so many people.
www.ompremium.com
An event by
Organized by
The final countdown The 42nd Land Rover International Polo Tournament, which will take place this upcoming July 28th – September 1st in Sotogrande (Southern Europe), is the most exciting and elite sporting event in Spain. Santa María Polo Club will become the epicenter of polo worldwide in August, exceeding last year’s impressive figures (28 teams and more than 60.000 visitors). As usual, some of the best teams and players in the world will take part. Santa Maria Polo Club thus offers an attractive calendar for the Summer Season, full of great polo, a magnificent commercial area and grand social events, which will make this Club a landmark on the international polo circuit one more year. FREE ENTRANCE Except Finals (Charity Tickets) For further Information: www.santamariapoloclub.com T.: +34 956 610 012 - info@santamariapoloclub.com
Bronze Cup Sponsor July 28th - August 2nd
Silver Cup Sponsor August 3rd - August 16th
Gold Cup Sponsor August 17th - August 31st
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Thailand - Polo Escape
Patron´s Challenge Cup By Alice Gipps The Patron’s Challenge is a competitive 10 goal tournament held at Polo Escape retreat in Thailand. Players from England, Argentina, India, China and Kenya gathered to this exquisite setting for a three day tournament. Staying in the stunning surroundings of Polo Escape, with an amazing field, flowing polo and a friendly atmosphere, this was unique experience for all the visiting players. The teams were closely matched. Polo Escape’s hostess and handy 0 goal player Robin Lourvanii combined forces with EFG’s experienced 1 goaler Robert Mehm to form the EFG Kuppa team. 4 goal Kenyan Casimir Gross also joined the team and thoroughly enjoyed a few days away from studying law in the UK for his first experience of polo in Thailand. Casimir’s youth and enthusiasm alongside the experience of Indian 5 goaler Angad Kalaan gave the team great promise. They had closely fought games, however, starting off too cautiously, they did not reach their full potential until it was too late for a comeback. Robert Mehm
Keith Gapp from EFG presents the prizes
Samir Suhag 76 | PQ
Axus 10 Brian Xu 0 Matias Orlando 2 Diego Gomez 2 Lucas Labat 6
Raven James Hewson Jamie Miranda Jamie Le Hardy Samir Suhag
9 -1 0 5 5
EFG Kuppa Robin Lourvanij Robert Mehm Casimir Gross Angad Kalaan
9 0 1 4 4
Raven Invest also put up strong team to contend the trophy. 5 goaler Jamie Le Hardy was flown in from the UK bringing with him a wealth of experience having previously played all over the world and the British high goal. Le Hardy ensured there was vital structure within the team while the quiet and collected Samir Suhag from India closed the back door playing at number 4. Relatively new to tournament polo, Raven’s number 1, James Hewson and Jamie Miranda at 2 both had a blinding tournament and victory couldn’t have evaded them any closer. The last chukka was exciting with only a half goal loss preventing them from taking home the silver. Instead Chinese player Brian Xu, the patron of Axus took home the trophy. He was backed up by three Argentine professionals including 6 goaler Lucas Labat who lead the team. Axus’s manager Diego Gomez showed off some impressive ball skills which went down well with the crowds while Matias Orlando’s relentless man marking played a vital role in the team’s success opening up opportunities for the rest of the players. Brian made sure any passes were converted into the all important goals. The team worked well together with each member excelling at their position. With the trophy within reach of either team, the final match between Raven Invest and Axus was exhilarating to watch. Enthusiastic commentating by Susy Lourvanij relayed the excitement on the field to the spectators and with half a goal between the score everyone was on the edge of their seat, glued to the action. In the dying minutes Samir Suhag lofted a huge neck shot from the half way line. It looked as though it could be Raven taking the trophy home as the ball sailed towards goal but Lucas Labat was quick off the mark in defence against this dangerously close call for Axus. Clearing the ball far away from the goal posts the final bell sounded and Axus came out victorious. Thanks to professional umpire Tim Keyte, accompanied by Mr William Roberts, also a registered umpire, fair play was guaranteed throughout the games. The smooth running of the whole event was down to Churo Pelligrini, Polo Escape’s manager, who evidently had itchy feet watching from the sidelines rather than playing. As always he organised a well run tournament and played an invaluable part behind the scenes making sure all the players were happy with their horse power, the ponies went well and everyone had enjoyable time. The spectacular Patron’s Challenge trophy was presented to Axus by EFG’s Keith Gapp followed by plenty of champagne and celebrations. Coverage by Pololine revealed this picturesque location to the outside polo community. PQ | 77
Thailand - Polo Escape
James Ashton Trophy This was the third anniversary of the very special event for Thailand´s Polo Escape which brought back many fond memories to all who were privileged to have known the Australian polo player James Ashton. International friends, many returning once again to play this tournament experienced an immensely fun competition which was as much about enjoying the social side of polo with a good crowd of friends in a beautiful location as the playing. Swedish player Roger Carlsson was among the International players to return to Polo Escape with his family. Joined by Argentinean 4 goaler Hernan Pieres who had also flown in especially from his base in Sotogrande, Nicolas Curto, the polo manager of Nusantara Polo Club in Indonesia and resident vet and polo professional at Polo Escape, Matias Orlando, the FCT team had a great line up.
Axus, winners of the Patron’s Challenge Cup at Polo Escape two weeks earlier added two new team members to the previous line-up. Brian Xu and Diego Gomez were joined by the highest rated professional in the tournament, 6 goaler Ignacio Tillous and Agustin Arestizabal, a very familiar face to Polo Escape having worked there the previous season. Finally Robin Lourvanij’s Kuppa team saw the return of Kenyan 4 goaler Casimir Gross who took the opportunity to escape for a few days from his law conversion degree and the bitter UK winter to be joined by his cousin from Kenya James Murray. The fourth player was Polo Escapes manager and head vet, Churo Pelligrini who did an amazing job of both playing but also ensuring the tournament was well organized and all the horses were on top form throughout the tournament.
James Ashton winners - Axus Team - left to right: Ignacio Tillous, Diego Gomez, Agustine Arestizabal, Brian Xu
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By Alice Gipps.
The three teams played in a round robin format over three days gaining points each day for a win, lose or draw. The first day Axus, with Diego Gomez on fire, won both of their games taking them straight into the lead on the points board. Kuppa had a very closely fought game which could have gone either way but a half goal win over FCT also secured them valuable points. By day two FCT found their feet and with the guidance from Roger Carlsson, who has had many years of experience playing the UK high goal, the team worked together and halted Axus’s advances down to a draw. However, FCT still couldn’t hold back Kuppa who once again snuck in a win by half a goal. The Kenyan cousins riled up the team and it worked well, however Axus still had the slight upper hand throughout the tournament and beat them by half a goal on the second and third games. By the final day Kuppa had a good one and a half goal win over FCT which gained them second place in the competition. Axus had started how they meant to go on from the beginning. Their second consecutive win playing 10 goal at Polo Escape ensured a great deal of champagne was used to celebrate on the podium!! Kenyan 4 goaler Casimir Gross for Kuppa against Axus
Off the field Lotus Arts de Vivre put on a spectacular display of home décor and exquisite jewellery alongside a polo photography exhibition by Alice Gipps. Allegrini wine’s provided some spectacular beverages to accompany the tapas and asado evenings at Polo Escape while an incredible live band tempted everyone to the dance floor, even the more reserved showing off their singing skills by the end of the evening.
Diego Gomez flying to the goal tapping the ball on the end of the mallet for Axus
Axus team
Robin Lourvanij for Kuppa vs. Brian Xu for Axus
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Thailand - Polo Escape
Ladies International 2013 By Alice Gipps Polo Escape is one of Thailand’s most popular polo resorts. Owned and run by Robin Lourvanij and her sister Susy the club has a collection of good horses, an immaculate field and beautiful boutique accommodation for guests. This idyllic location is truly an amazing venue to host an International Woman’s tournament and the event has quickly become a huge success in just four years. Two of the world’s top female professionals attended for the first time, Argentine two goaler Lia Salvo and the famous three goal American Sunny Hale ensuring the polo was even faster than previous years. Ladies professionals also flew in from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Singapore and Malaysia. Every team included a male player to boost the level further, although putting goals on the score board was down to the girls. The incredible turnout of female talent along with a male professional in each team ensured the polo was more competitive than ever before. The men could not attack inside the 60-yard line, instead they were put to work defending and sending up long passes which kept the games flowing. Everyone arrived a few days in advance to acclimatise, try horses and prepare with a team practice. Excellent horses were a huge contributing factor both to the enjoyment and level of the polo. Over three days of tournament league games valuable points were gained for a win loose or draw. Although there was a significant difference on paper between the team handicaps, on the field the games were extremely closely fought. Leah Hamden’s La Boheme team, got off to a flying start from day one
Lia Salvo for La Boheme against King Power's mighty Sunny Hale 80 | PQ
narrowly beating Kuppa. With the talented Lia Salvo on their side the team continued their winning streak throughout the tournament. They’re toughest opponent was Ploy Bhinsaeng’s mighty King Power team. The combination of Sunny Hale, at one time a 5 goaler, alongside Charlotte Sweeney and Ploy was formidable but the skilled Lia Salvo backed up by Lynly Fong and Leah Hamden on the attack with Shaffik Muftaffa defending held off King Power just enough for La Boheme to win by half a goal. The previous year’s winners, Polo Escape, lead by Panita Vongkusolkit put up a good fight once again, however, it was not enough and La Boheme had a clear run of three wins to claim the 2013 Ladies International Champion title. Head vet and manager Ramiro ‘Churo’ Pellegrini oversaw the tournament to ensure it ran like clockwork, while Swiss commentator Peter Schlageter relayed the polo action to the crowds who had a spectacular view from the tiered banks overlooking the field. Professional umpire Tim Keyte oversaw fair play on the field. Away from polo there was time to lounge in the glorious sunshine by the infinity pool looking out over the polo field and mountains, play tennis, take trail rides through the rubber plantations, explore the local beach and floating markets in Pattaya or simply relax with a Thai massage. Delicious food and evening entertainment including a live band and a visit to the famous Walking Street made the whole event truly enjoyable. Greatly praised by all who attended, credit for organising this fantastic tournament goes to Polo Escape’s brilliant hostess Robin Louvranij, her sister Susy, and Churo Pelligrini.
PQLeah | 81 Hamdan La Boheme Polo Team: Shaffik Muftaffa, Lia Salvo, Lynly Fong and
Republica A rgentina Cup
Rodrigo Rueda Jr. retains title in a lineup with dad Rodrigo By Alejandra Ocampos • Photos by Matías Callejo La Bamba de Areco defeated Sauveterre Lovelocks 16-13, and won the Copa República Argentina, after a very intense final played on field 1, at Palermo. A very special final for La Bamba de Areco, not only because Rodrigo Rueda Jr and Diego Cavanagh won this title for the second consecutive year (in 2012, they played for Tattinger Dos Lunas), but also for a familiar issue involved, as Rodrigo Jr. had the joy to win with his father, Rodrigo. Maybe the best thing of this unique competiton, that allows teams between 0 and 40 goals. Therefore, it also allows a father and a son to play together and, why not, win together, as it happened on a beautiful Autumn afternoon at the Cathedral. La Bamba de Areco dominated the first half. They started with a 5-2 lead, but in the second chukka, Sauveterre Lovelocks, who received one goal on
handicap, cut the margin to one (9-10). La Bamba de Areco maintained the lead by half time, but Sauveterre Lovelocks had another idea in mind; with goals courtesy of Santiago Solari, Pepe Heguy and Gastón Laulhé, they took their first lead by the end of the fourth chukka (10-9). A very intense fifth chukka follwed, with both teams exchanging goals, that led to a 12-all with only one period remaining. That's when La Bamba de Areco revived up and scored four goals, the last a great one by Diego Cavanagh, after a long run, that sealed the 16-13 win, and the Copa República Argentina for La Bamba de Areco. Score La Bamba de Areco: (1-0) 5-2, 6-5, 8-6, 9-10, 12-12, 16-13.
Gastón Laulhe, Guillermo Willington, Samtiago Solari and Alberto Heguy Jr
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The Rueda´s, father and son Polo has always those nice things. One of them, maybe the most important, is that it is a sport that can be shared by the family. Brothers, sisters, fathers, uncles, cousins... all of them who belong to families that have large polo traditions, have played together. There are many examples, all well known by polo fans. The Ruedas are one of those families. Rodrigo Rueda and his son, Rodrigo Jr. decided to put togeter a team, La Bamba de Areco, to play one of the most important tournaments of the Autumn season in Argentina, the Copa República Argentina; a tournament that Rodrigo won last year with La Esquina, and in 2010, with La Bamba de Areco. So, it was time to try to play with dad and, why not, win. And they did it, in what was a real
moving and special moment for father and son. And they had a dream: have three Rodrigo Rueda, father, son and grandson, playing together at Palermo sometime. PQ met up with father and son, for a conversation with the recent winners of the Copa República Argentina.
How did it come to put the team together for the Copa República Argentina and play together? Rodrigo Sr: It came up when my son, Rodrigo, and his three brothers, invited and cheered me to play, while Rodrigo organized this good team we put together. How does it feel to play with your father? Rodrigo Jr: It's great, a lot of fun. It's very normal for me to play with my father, as I've played with him all my life, since I was 14 years old. I've played my first tournaments with him. It's the best thing that could have happened to me. Your father says you managed the organization... Rodrigo Jr: Yes, but they are his horses! The only thing I manage is just called the truck... then, all of the horses belong to my father. Do you give any advice to your son? Rodrigo Sr: No way, I can't talk on the field! I can't breath! (laughs) Rodrigo Jr: He doesn't give much advice, but he teaches you thorugh his own example and his strength to play. That's what I like to take from him. When was the last time did you play a tournament like the Copa República Argentina? Rodrigo Sr: I really don't remember... it was a long time ago. But I've been playing since 1974. Which are your next steps, following the Copa República Argentina? Rodrigo Sr: I'm working with La Bamba de Areco and Dos Lunas. I'm going to England and Sotogrande with them. Rodrigo Jr: I'm also going to England and Sotogrande with La Bamba and Dos Lunas. Rodrigo Sr: We are together, always together. Very boring for him... (laughs) Rodrigo Jr: No, that's not true! It's a lot of fun working with my father. I hope this goes on, until we have three Rodrigo Rueda playing together in Palermo, both of us and the grandson. PQ | 83
International Polo Series
South African show By Alejandra Ocampos • Photos by Matías Callejo Every month of April, Palermo (the Cathedral) opens its doors to international polo as part of the Argentine autumn season which is becoming increasingly important and competitive. The first of the two international tournaments played was the II International Series. Three teams up to 22 goals took part in the competition representing Argentina, South Africa and England. It was the Nations Cup preview, the tournament in which Argentina with Gonzalo Jr and Facundo Pieres in its line-up will be meeting the Rest of the World team on April 27th. The II International Series took place from April 9 th through April 14th. South Africa and England played on the opening day. The South Africans gave the English team no respite throughout the game despite the fact that they had experimented players Luke and Mark Tomlinson in their line-up and were unable to defeat the young South African team, led by their key man, Nachi du Plessis, as they achieved an important 14-10 victory. The competition was resumed after a rain break on Friday, April 12th, with Argentina’s debut against England. To everyone’s surprise, England, under star player Luke Tomlinson, was way too much for an unrecognisable Argentina who helplessly fell 12-6. Argentina wasn’t exactly in good shape to play the last game of the series against South Africa who were
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only one victory away from winning the trophy even if they lost by one goal. On the contrary, Argentina, whose main figure was 7-goaler, Diego Cavanagh, needed to beat the South African team by no less than 9 goals. After Argentina’s initial 1-0 lead, the South Africans managed to turn the result around in their favour in the following four chukkas, though the local team never gave up. They reduced the score difference to 5-4 in favour of South Africa in the partial result, but that difference drew further apart in the fifth chukka (8-5). Argentina made a final effort in the last seven minutes, but it wasn’t enough to achieve victory. South Africa won 9-8 and took the II International Series Cup back home. II INTERNATIONAL POLO SERIES IN PALERMO Argentina - England – South Africa FINAL POSITIONS South Africa (+3, and two victories) England (+2, one victory and one defeat) Argentina (-5, one victory and one defeat)
PARTICIPATING TEAMS Argentina Diego Cavanagh 7 Pedro Falabella Jr 6 Manuel Plaza de Ayala 6 Martín Joaquín 3 Total 22 South Africa Dirk van Reenen 3 Jean du Plessis 6 Ignatius du Plessis 8 Christopher MacKenzie 5 Total 22 England Matthew Perry 3 Oliver Cudmore 5 Mark Tomlinson 7 Luke Tomlinson 7 Total 22
Mark Tomlinson and Manuel Plaza de Ayala
Diego Cavanagh and Jean du Plessis PQ | 85
M anipur
Pomp, ponies and Delhi belly:
A week in Manipur at the 6th International Polo Tournament By Amelia Latham Wake
Arrivals… We emerged from the long flight to Imphal, after a dazed hop through Dubai and Kolkata airports. Not knowing what to expect, we squinted into the welcoming Indian sun and the adventure of a lifetime started… The rest of the day passed in a blur of greetings, handshakes, photos and the new, exciting smells and sounds of Manipur. It was soon clear that we had entered a very different world, far away from the champagne and stilettos of the British polo scene. The larger than life and hugely welcoming Colonel Singh, Vice President of the Manipur Riding and Polo Association, who met us straight from the plane, proudly announced that we would all go directly to the polo ground… after eighteen hours on various planes… this was (perhaps ungratefully) a bit unpopular. However clichéd it may sound, arriving at the oldest polo ground in the world had a special feeling. The echoes of history, of past battles with stick and ball were palpable. Excitement and the thrill of competition was in the air as teams from England, France, Thailand Germany, Delhi and Manipur tried out the feisty ponies and worked out who might be heading for the tournament title. However much everyone tried to deny it with friendly banter, there was a fizzing undercurrent of competition. After a sleepy supper that evening involving the first of many glasses of whisky (in a supposedly dry state!) we dragged ourselves to comfy beds and dreams of the days to come.
The competition begins… With butterflies of anticipation we were escorted in chauffeur driven 4x4s by our friendly, if a little terrifying, soldiers, armed to the teeth. Initially slightly embarrassed by them, we slowly discovered that we were in a relatively volatile part of India. With room
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service breakfast came the local newspaper with an almost daily reminder of the fragility of this part of India, with another IED explosion of some kind. Although the overall security situation in the East of India has improved there are still insurgency risks and the army where not taking any chances! We began the first day of polo with overwhelming pageantry. There were beautiful girls carrying baskets of sweet rice cakes, a spectacular drumming performance, the players in a spectacular display and the wives and girlfriends sitting in state. Every element of the opening ceremony and the week reflected the immense pride of the Manipuris. What proceeded was a nail-biting, physical and theatrical week of polo games. Throughout the highs and lows of the competition heats the players never disappointed the crowds. Locals flocked to the ground on every day of the tournament to watch the foreigners fight it out on their historical, treasured field. The Hurlingham England Team of Paul de Rivaz, Rupert Duff, Josh Woolley, Justin Farr-Jones, Christopher Townsend, managed and assisted by Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, did their country proud. They adapted to the ponies quickly and played with all the skill and passion of the Manipur team. Narrowly beaten by the Delhi team in the semi-final of the tournament, they overcame many hurdles. Paul, a seasoned adventurer, had broken his collarbone only a month before, competing in the Mongol Rally, the most dangerous horseback race in the world. And now here he was, playing polo in Manipur. With everyone encountering the well-known nemesis of the foreign traveller in India, ‘Delhi Belly’, they all played as a dynamic and united team There was something very fitting about the local Manipur team winning the tournament. From the beginning of the week their tenacity and natural talent
shone. Despite the obvious and understandable disappointment at losing, there was a genuine sense of euphoria and satisfaction as the team stepped up the proudly receive their trophy in the warm dusk of our final evening at the polo ground. Everyone there felt truly honoured to have been a part of this very special week.
What did we learn while we were there? In this remote corner of the Indian subcontinent in Manipur, polo is ‘of the people’, quite unlike the glamorous game we know of in the West that belongs only to the rich elite. As you venture beyond the boundaries of Imphal, the villages of Manipur are tucked away in paddy fields, lush wetlands and shrubby wasteland that once served as polo grounds. It is in these rural areas that polo first thrived and was nurtured. The Manipuri pony thrives in the open grasslands and swampy terrains of the valley region. This open living and grazing have given this pony its sure-footedness and stamina. They can trot for kilometres at a time, play four or more chukkas and then carry their owner back to the village. For centuries these creatures have given freedom and a valued pass time to the rural youth. That is why they have been a help rather than a hindrance to locals and why they are so cherished. Today the grounds have vanished and polo is no longer played because the pony population is fast approaching extinction. Its natural grazing grounds have been eaten up by construction and settlement and ponies straying onto private land have been brutally attacked. All too often mares have been hit by vehicles on nearby roads as they try to forage for food. The
new generation of youth are interested in more modern types of hobbies and polo is no longer an integral and essential part of their lives. More importantly, polo does not offer many career prospects for those who are interested. Polo has now become an urban sport, forced into cities such as Imphal by the disappearing countryside. Most players still come from rural villages. There are now ten active polo clubs in the state, run and supported by a few individuals who have a great pride for their cultural heritage. These honorable few finance polo themselves, motivated by their passion, but they are not the super rich. They have some money and time to spare but often find that this is not sufficient to sustain their beloved club. The Manipur Riding and Polo Association have taken on the task of sustaining the costly game of polo in its place of birth, so that the original game and the original pony do not go extinct. They run a small breeding programme with a little government support. They have fought bankruptcy and a changing world to fight for their heritage and for this very special breed. The Manipuris are calling out to polo lovers all around the world for support for help. So what did we take away with us from our time in the far east of India? Underneath all the pomp and pageantry of the week, there was an underlying message. The world of Manipur polo is shrinking and the charismatic ponies disappearing. As the lucky few invited to go, we have a duty to tell the world about our time there and help them to find some much-needed support. PQ | 87
Polo Tips
"Anticipation"
A powerful tool when playing polo By Eduardo Amaya By definition, anticipation means getting ahead of others in carrying out an action. As regards sports, whoever gets ahead is always the best player, the one who views the game in such a way as to be able to ‘read’ other players’ actions faster. Polo requires a speed of reaction in which barely a few seconds count in order to win a play, and the sum of plays accomplished bring about victory as a logical result. In this sport, horses and their power of very quick reactions are a decisive factor when initiated by our aids, hence the importance of good horsemanship. We could say that when the time comes to anticipate a move we must take into account certain aspects such as: 1) Technique: By observing what our rivals are capable of doing. It is even better if we know our opponents. The more skillful the players, the more difficult it will be to read their moves as they act based on the surprise factor, making unpredictable moves (as is the case with Cambiaso). 2) Tactics: By observing the way our opponents play at that moment, their game plan and where the game takes place. 3) Shot position: We must pay attention to shot preparation; where our opponent’s legs, elbows, shoulders and head are placed. All four main shots as well as the eight complementary shots have a particular position. 4) Habit: We must remember that all players tend to repeat moves that have usually worked for them. 5) The horse’s ability to anticipate moves through quick reactions.
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We can talk about subconscious rider input which simply means continuing with game actions without having to focus our attention on manoeuvring the horse.
In short, I would say that anticipation means knowing how to read plays quickly. Lack of anticipation implies waiting for someone to hit the ball in order to later react and go towards it, which means we are arriving late. An example of this would be as follows: When a player decides to hit a backhander, there are three possibilities: an open, tail or offside backhand. Our body posture, the type of swing in each case, and the way we manoeuvre our horse will evidently be different. This is when the power of anticipation must come into the picture. Evidently, the lower the level of polo, the harder it will be to anticipate a move as shot positions are almost impossible to see or predict, shots are unexpected or not thought through, the game becomes erratic and,
Professor Amaya is the well known head teacher of several of the country's most prestigious polo clubs and his step-by-step method starts with guests being scrutinised by experts for 'the way you ride, your balance, seating position, the way you hold the reins, whether or not you're straight on the horse's back, your fears, the way you stop, the way you use your arms, how you place your legs, how you place your feet, etc.' To contact Eduardo Amaya: eamaya@pololine.com
Anticipation Reaction time + manoever time = response time Anticipation should be effective within members of the same team and also against the opponents. as explained above, a player who is deficient in terms of manoeuvring a horse will be limited when the time comes to anticipate a move. In short, I would say that anticipation means knowing how to read plays quickly. Undoubtedly, lots of factors must be present for this to occur, including players’ power of vision as they must use their peripheral vision (to be aware of the rest of the players’ location on the field), the hitter’s body position, horse placement, position on the field, etc. In the case of football, there are many examples of players who practice this sport that have great peripheral vision, and this becomes highly noticeable in those who play centre field in the centre-half position. Such players enjoy a special ability to see gaps in
between their team-mates and their opponents’ defence. There are times when you may ask yourself how these players are able to see the gap, the position of the ball and that of their team-mate to whom they are passing the ball as well as their rival’s defence waiting ahead. There are occasions when players anticipate their opponent’s next move, so before reaching the ball they have already decided where they must send it as soon as they receive it. But there are times when this isn’t the case and they simply use their peripheral vision to avoid looking fixedly at any point in particular enabling them to see everything around them. As a result, we optimise time enabling the play to occur as best as possible.
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Veterinary
The evolution of the polo pony: From embryo transfers to clones By Julio G. Oriol DVM, MSc, PhD. Equine Reproduction Specialist. At the end of the 1980’s, the first polo ponies were born via embryo transfer (ET) in Argentina. This method of assisted reproduction was promoted in Argentina by Martin Reynal, who was successful polo pony breeder and previous president of the Argentine Association of Polo (AAP). At this time, I visited Argentina from Canada with the idea of organising the 3rd International Symposium of Equine Embryo Transfer, but this met with some resistance from breeders, especially the thoroughbred breeders. However, thanks to support from the Argentine Veterinary Equine Association and a group of veterinarians interested in equine reproduction, the conference went ahead. The cover of the book of the resulting conference was a scene from the Argentine Open, a decision made jointly with Professor W.R. “Twink” Allen, the global pioneer of ET. We both believed that polo ponies would be the biggest beneficiaries of this method of reproductive assisted technology. The conference also gave the founding knowledge to many Argentine veterinarians who had just started using assisted reproductive techniques. Now, 20 years after that conference, I have no doubt that we didn’t make a mistake, and all the breeders understand the huge positive impact that ET had in the genetic selection of polo ponies. There is a presumption that the genes that give ability for playing polo to the ponies are largely inherited. The empirical proof that the best mares produce the best offspring is easy to see in the catalogues at the horse sales. With time, the ET process has become more efficient, the use of frozen semen has increased, the success rate of frozen embryos, and foetal sexing and semen sexing have also all increased. As a result, all the breeding population has improved, and polo ponies seem to be better than in the 1980´s. It is not just on the playing field that one sees the results. On equine reproductive forums worldwide, Argentine vets are at the forefront of developments in ET, akin to polo itself, where almost no team can win without some links to an Argentine player. When in 2003 the first equine clones were born, people began to look to polo ponies as the ideal horse to clone, partly because the polo pony breed associations are so open to assisted reproduction techniques, and partly because as previously mentioned, the high inheritability of the polo playing genes.
The first commercial clones were produced by Dr. Eric Palmer’s Cryozootech, based in France. There, the greatest implications were for the world of Showjumping. The firm had tremendous problems in registering the cloned horses, under a cloud of controversy. It was not until July 2012 that the Federation Equestrian International (FEI) authorized the competing of clones and their offspring. Still, many breeders maintain that horses should be bred in fields, not in labs. Undoubtedly, cloning a horse like the late gelding ET-FRH, who was a supremely successful horse in the 90’s, as well as at the Olympics, was of benefit to the sport. His clone did not compete, but he in turn saw the first of his progeny on the ground in 2012, and there is frozen semen available worldwide. A very successful gelding is a good reason to create a clone, a way to spread the genes of a very talented horse that would otherwise not be able to do so. Back to polo: Polo breeders have always looked favourably on the possibility of cloning. It is likely to be the only breed association that never opposed it. For example the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) which has now allowed the process, had at one stage opposition of 86% in a poll done by the association. Bit by bit the various associations are allowing the registration of clones, with the exception of the thoroughbred breeders, where every method of assisted reproduction is banned, even the simplest of all, artificial insemination. However, cloning process is as yet extremely inefficient. The clone begins with the oocyte. These form the chamber in which the collected cells from the horse to be clone are placed. The oocytes are collected from ovaries which are obtained at the abattoirs. It takes around 500 equine ovaries to clone just one horse. This requires a lot of slaughterhouse material for the process to work. United States of America has banned the slaughter of horses in abattoirs, which by default put Argentina on the map, as around 200,000 horses are slaughtered in the country every year. Therefore, a lot of material can be obtained in Argentina to make a lot of clones. Once the embryo has been created in the lab it is transferred to the mare, again, Argentina has many ET centers with good numbers of very well synchronized recipient mares. In 2010, Adolfo Cambiaso, probably the best polo player in the world, in association with Crestview Genetics in the USA,
Year Place
Event
1974
Japan
Borns the first clonated horse in the world, product of the embryo transfer.
1982
Colorado, USA
First Equine Embryo transfer centerPrimeros centros de embriones comerciales en Estados Unidos.
1989
Rufino
Se crea el primer centro de embriones en Argentina, Santa Paula.
2003
USA
Nace el primer equino del mundo, Idaho Gem.
2003
Italy
Nace primer caballo clonado del mundo, Prometea.
2005
Italy
Nace el primer clon de comercial de la raza endurance, Pieraz.
2010
Argentina
Nace el primer clon equino en South America, Ñandubay.
2010
USA
Nace el primer clon de caballo de polo, EL Caifa y Cuartetera.
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A donor cell is taken from a champion horse.
Donor Nucleus These two cells are fused using an electric shock.
Egg Cell The fused cell begins dividing normally.
The nucleus of the egg is removed. An egg cell is taken from an adult mare.
Embryo
Cloned Foal
The embryo develops normaly into a foal.
The embryo is placed in the uterus of a hoster mother.
Ethanol, Vert a son of ET Cryozootech sold at the best French auction sales for sport horses, "ventes Fences" Photo by Dr. Eric Palmer
was the first to clone a polo pony. The clones were created in the USA and then sent to Argentina once they were born, to be raised and backed. Also in 2010, a group of Argentine scientists led by Dr. Daniel Salamone of the University of Buenos Aires produced the first non-commercial equine clone in South America. The technique used was very novel, and improved the efficiency of the cloning process. This led to his recognition by the prestigious magazine Biology of Reproduction. The editors put the story on the cover, an honour that is on par with winning the Open. This work is also another improvement for the Argentine horse industry. The work was partially supported by the Sidus Group, an Argentine company who was also produced transgenic cows. At this moment there are three groups working on the cloning process. There are some rumours that there are many recipient mares pregnant with clones, but not one has been born yet. What is going to happens when also these clones are together on the polo field? Perhaps it will be very difficult to choose the best playing pony of the game, or the best playing pony award would
not be necessary any more. Until now almost none of the cloned horse have ever competed. Therefore, it is very difficult to predict such an event. However, there is an achievement that must be mentioned. There are cloned equus that have competed – though admittedly they are mules (crossbreed between the horse and the donkey). In California mule racing is big business, and at the end of the 90’s there was a very successful (unbeaten) mule, and as mules are sterile, there was no way of passing on the genes. Don Jacklin, his owner, provided almost $750,000 to finance a cloning programme under Dr. Gordon Woods from the University of Idaho. From this project were born three clones; Utah Pioneer, Idaho Gen and Idaho Start. The breeder declined to race the first clone, Idaho Pioneer, but the other two raced against non-cloned mules. In their first race, the two cloned mules lost the 350 yard sprint by more than a second against a naturally born mule. Idaho Gen was third; Idaho Start only managed a dismal 7th. Many traditional mule breeders believed that nature trumped over science. In a few years, we will see the boost to polo that the clones of the top ponies will bring. With all certainty the Argentine Polo Pony will continue to be the leader on the international stage thanks to the players and the support of a group of breeders, breakers and vets that have made the breeding of polo ponies an art form. Maybe science cannot beat art, but it can certainly lend a helping hand. PQ | 91
World Polo Tour
Facundo Pieres, the new runner-up
Adolfo Cambiaso remains steadfast at the top of the ranking By Alejandra Ocampos • Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi There have been some significant modifications in the international polo ranking, better known as the World Polo Tour, after the US season ended and Zacara established themselves as two-time champions of the US Open.
US Open finalist and USPA Piaget Gold Cup champion Pelón Stirling continues in third place. Following Nero (who takes fourth place as we mentioned previously) comes Gonzalo Pieres Jr., and Pablo Mac Donough remains in sixth place.
Among the most relevant changes, we have a new runner-up, a few outstanding rises and a new amateur ranking leader. Let’s see: Adolfo Cambiaso remains steadfast in first position. Despite having lost the US Open final, he has accumulated 917 points, placing him 200 points ahead of his brand-new runner-up, Facundo Pieres, MVP and two-time champion of the most important polo competition played in the United States. This victory enabled Facundo to displace Juan Martín Nero to fourth position.
It is worth adding that only four players have remained in their positions within the Top 15: Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Gonzalo Pieres Jr. and Pablo MacDonough.
#2
#1 Facundo Pieres
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One of the most important modifications has taken place in the seventh position, as Cristian "Magoo" Laprida, another US Open champion, moved up from eleventh place, and became one of the players who climbed highest within the Top 20. Magoo’s rise to this position has pushed Nico
Adolfo Cambiaso ended 2012 at the top of the ranking which he leads by most of the year.
Pieres, Mariano Aguerre and Hilario Ulloa into eighth, ninth and tenth place respectively. The best-positioned amateur player takes 11th place: Zacara’s patron, Lyndon Lea. His victory in the US Open has also placed him as leader in the amateur ranking, where he climbed from position 19 and beat Victor Vargas. For his part, Polito Pieres has slipped out of the Top 10 and taken 12 th place. Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr., semi-finalist of the US Open with ERG moved into 13 th place, dropping one position due to Lyndon Lea’s and Magoo Laprida’s rise. His team-mate Agustín Merlos has also climbed from position 15 to 14, while his brother Sebastián Merlos rounds off the Top 15, climbing one position. Mike Azzaro has become another highly outstanding figure of the US season, as his second consecutive US Open victory enabled him to enter the Top 20, climbing up from position 42. The same thing has happened with one of the recently discovered talents who played the American Triple Crown with Valiente, namely Santi Torres, considered by many to be the best 6-goaler of the year, as he climbed from position 34 to 25.
World Polo Tour Top 10 Player 1. Adolfo Cambiaso 2. Facundo Pieres 3. David Stirling Jr 4. Juan Martín Nero 5. Gonzalo Pieres Jr 6. Pablo Mac Donough 7. Cristian Laprida Jr 8. Nicolás Pieres 9. Mariano Aguerre 10. Hilario Ulloa
Points 917 842 780 740 665 659 548 521 496 484 April , 2013
For further information, www.worldpolotour.com
#1
Adolfo Cambiaso PQ | 93
High Goal Pony Review 2013
Best ponies of the Spring Season PQ international choose the best horses of the Palm Beach High Goal Season. Photos by Ana Clara Cozzi.
Silk | David Stirling Name: Silk Played by: David Stirling Owner: David Stirling Breeding: Ellerston Australia Sex: Mare Age: 12 year old Colour: Red Chestnut Sire: Cauca Dam: Tweed Awards: USPA Piaget Gold Cup 2013 - BPP Highlights: Played the Argentine Open Championship 2009-2010 by David Stirling and 2011 by Adolfo Cambiaso
Los Machitos Jackie | Mariano Aguerre Name: Los Machitos Jackie Played by: Mariano Aguerre Owner: Los Machitos Sex: Mare Age: 7 years old Colour: Chestnut Sire: Wainscott Dam: Machitos Funky Award: Best Horse of the Year (Palm Beach Season), 2013, by the Argentine Polo Horse Breeder Association (AACCP).
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HURLINGHAM - ARGENTINA
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WWW.FAGLIANO.COM
Jaeger-L eCoultre
180 years of total dedication to watchmaking To honour Swiss punctuality, PQ international arrived at 9 am on the dot at the Grand Mansion of Jaeger-LeCoultre. It was all organised, Eduardo Maclean was waiting for us. As it was so early, before the visit started he drew our attention to the fact that many of the staff were on a break – a mid morning break, as their day starts at 0530, as per watchmaking tradition. Eduardo Maclean took us back in time to the 16th century; 1559 to be precise, when Pierre LeCoultre, an engineer from the Bureau Technique, arrived in the Valle de Joux and in a few short year founded the village of Le Sentier. The valley is in one of the most inhospitable climates of the Jura and suffers extremes of conditions, which influenced the destiny of this region. In a way this stimulated the inventiveness of the women and men who installed themselves there. Determination, patience and an enterprising nature meant they were inventive and survived.
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The valley was always filled with families dedicated to watchmaking and early every day, each member of a watchmaking family spent hours working by the windows of the houses to take advantage of the light. The more windows a house had, the more successful the business was. In 1833, a pioneering Antoine LeCoultre came up with the notion of combining all the various skills under one roof. Now, the Jaeger-LeCoultre building has over 1000 windows, where each day the men and women make the most of the day and create these masterpieces. The process begins in an area of design where a mixture designers cast ideas for new creations, from which are few are trialled, studied and analysed by “micro engineers”. Along the way one can run into some of the most celebrated watch maestros such as Joel Cordier and Philippe Vandel and discuss the latest developments of the Tourbillon.
Visiting the workshop, one can appreciate every aspect of the art of watchmaking, from design to calibration, moulding and more of the 30 steps to finish the completed watch. In the area of Atmos, one can admire the displays of these pendulum clockss of high watchmaking that have become the official clock of the Helvetica Confederation for more than half a century. The first Jaeger-LeCoultre icons were: 1925 - The Duoplan watch 1928 - The Atmos Pendulum 1931 - The legendary Reverso In 1929 they created the smallest calibre ever; the Calibre 101 and still today they hold the record for the smallest watch movement ever made in the world. The first years of the 21st century were some of the most successful in the history of the brand. From 2000 the “manufacture� have created 75 new calibres and wristwatches with complicated movements.
Over 180 years, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created and manufactured over 1200 unique calibres, and registered more than 400 patents. La Grande Mansion can boast of world firsts, superlative and legendary watches such as the Reverso, Duoplan, Memovox, Polaris, Gyrotourbillon 1 and 2 and more recently the Gyrotourbillon 3, which forms the masterpiece of the Jubilee trilogy, created in the honour of founder Antoine LeCoultre. They also launched the Duometre with the Atmos perpetual pendulum. Today over 1000 people work in the Manufacture and dominate all aspects of watchmaking to be the brand with the most innovation in the industry. The technical people in the Manufacture have multiplied to form to create an architectural complex which is more than a sanctuary of the beautiful watchmaker, but is a prodigious space for creation. A visit to its museum is the icing on the cake for this trip in time.
PQ | 97
The Museum The museum surpasses all expectations. After seeing the process of the manufacture here you can appreciate all the models created. One can explore the roots of watchmaking and follow the advances and innovations in design and production. The pieces are marvelous, works of art, valuable jewelry which in its time was revolutionary. This fusion of eras, this mix of past, present and future, characterizes the lineage of a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch. Like this, the great Swiss tradition of watchmaking persists.
98 | PQ
1931
is a key date in the history of Jaeger-LeCoultre as it marks the birth of the Reverso. On a business trip to India, Cesar de Trey, distributor for the brand, met up with various old friends, some British diplomats. They were great aficionados of polo and spoke of their desire for a watch that could withstand the knocks of their beloved game. On his return to Switzerland, de Trey relayed this to Jacques-David LeCoultre. From this was born the Reverso, whose name in Latin means to turn around. A simple action allows the watch to be rotated, thus protecting the glass face. The Reverso can also be customised at will. This marriage of elegance and sport made the Reverso a grand classic of Art Deco, a cultural movement that combined all the values of refinement, craftsmanship, aesthetics and a taste for fun.
Ana Clara and Sebastian, from PQ, visiting JLC Manufacture
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URBAN HUNTER PROJECT BU E N OS A I R E S LON D ON M A DR I D DU B A I
STREET SMARTS CULTURE FROM THE GROUND UP
GLOBAL
by Daniela Dini
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PQ | 101
A CITY REVEALED THROUGH HER ART
EXPERIENCE:
Across the globe, contemporary art has taken to the streets. In recent years Buneos Aires has become Argentina’s epicenter for street art and graffiti, on par with cities like Berlin and New York as a reference point for this international trend. There’s no better way to experience the ever-evolving urban art of BsAs than with Graffitimundo. Founded in 2009 by two Brits who were shadowing local artists and building a network for the recognition and promotion of street art, Graffitimundo organizes tours through the city’s “open air galleries” and hidden graffiti hotspots. From secret streets and sweeping murals seen by foot, bike or bus, to meeting artists and discussing visual trends, these tours are truly off the beaten track. With emphasis on historic and social context — and including works by both national and international artists — a tour with Graffitimundo is a truly unique way for art and culture buffs to get to know more than just the streets of Buenos Aires.
CITY:
BUENOS AIRES
www.graffitimundo.com
TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MARKETS SERVE UP AUTHENTIC SPANISH FLAVORS
EXPERIENCE:
CITY:
MADRID
102 | PQ
Shopping at the local market is one of the most deeply-rooted traditions in Spanish culture. And while many of Madrid’s markets may be historic strongholds, with a burgeoning fine-foods offering and emphasis on contemporary delicacies, they now attract local and international foodies both young and old. There’s no better way to immerse yourself in Madrid’s local flavor than taking in the hustle and bustle amid the produce and tapas stands of the San Miguel Market. As mentioned in ¡Viva Madrid!, the market’s historic 1915 façade has been artfully refurbished, and is now just as up to date as the bounty of tapas inside. For something a bit trendier, the fashion quarter, Chueca, is nearby. The bohemian haunt of Madrid, it’s also the epicenter of the gay scene, and in 2011 the San Anton Market was formed to reflect the interests and creativity of this neighborhood. A modern take on an age-old tradition, the San Anton Market has the spirit of a street bazaar with sophisticated products on the first floor, and international food stands and a chic art gallery on the second floor. After you’ve strolled the stalls, head up to the terrace — which boasts two restaurants and a bar, favored by local celebs — to relax with a glass of Sangria. www.esmadrid.com
CITY:
LONDON
LOSE YOURSELF… BUT FIND SILKS, SPICES AND PRECIOUS STONES
EXPERIENCE:
Here’s a secret: the mystery of the desert can be found in her souks. For centuries Dubai’s open-air markets were the place for trading not only gold, spices, fabrics and all manner of valuables, but also gossip and intrigue. The most famous of these is the Old Souk, located on the coast of the Bur Dubai. It was established in the late 1800s by the Arabic textile families, and was also known for its luxurious trade in pearls from Iran. Today, besides Aladdin-style shoes, you can find all manner of goods and gifts. On the opposite bank is Deira, where you’ll find the Spice Souk for a truly exotic experience. Countless stalls are overflowing with dried leaves, petals, roots and powders of all descriptions. Be sure to pick up some Iranian saffron or aromatic tea blends from all parts of India and Sri Lanka. You can even find a natural Viagra made with a root that comes from somewhere in East Asia. Not that it’s needed, of course. And to accessorize like an empress, continue on to the blinged-out Gold Souk, boasting over 300 stands laden with literally tons of gold bangles, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and more in shades of pink, white, yellow and even purple. It’s a dazzling site to behold, but shop smart and be sure to obtain guarantees of authenticity and provenance, especially if buying diamonds. Dubai may be the city of the future, but the legendary souks remain. www.definitelydubai.com
WE BUILT THIS CITY ON ROCK AND ROLL
EXPERIENCE:
Few cities feature more prominently in the history of rock and roll than London. The British capital was home to countless musicians, her streets inspiring idols across the decades. From Pink Floyd to Queen, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, they all left their mark on “The Swinging City.” Fast forward to today, where you can walk in the steps of your favorite musicians courtesy of London Rock Tours. Beatles fans can visit the boutiques, pubs and clubs frequented by the Fab Four as well as Abbey Road and landmark buildings like John and Yoko’s first house and Sir Paul McCartney’s residence. Our top pick is the Sex Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll tour, taking visitors through 50 iconic rock locations past and present, encompassing Soho and the edgy neighborhoods of North London: Camden, Islington and St. Johns Wood (as made famous in the Stones’ Play With Fire). Whether you’re a music fan or history buff, London Rock Tours delivers the gossip, trivia and neighborhood lore that define this lyrical city. Whether your bag is classic rock, punk, new wave or progressive, who doesn’t want to see London through the eyes of a rock star? www.londonrocktour.com www.beatles-beatles-beatles.com
CITY:
DUBAI
For more secrets of the cities of the world www.urbanhunterproject.com
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SAVOIRE VIVRE T H E SPA L I F E
A TOUCH OF
THE EXOTIC
S
by Erika Mehiel
et amid the sun-bleached tumbleweed and desert sands of southern California, the Spa at The Colony Palms Hotel is an oasis indeed. Located in historic downtown Palm Springs, the Colony Palms has catered to a range of Hollywood clientele over the past century, since opening under infamous America mobster Al Wertheimer in 1936. Formerly housing a speakeasy and brothel (a bit more relevant to the Prohibition-era), this intimate hotel recently underwent a 21st-century revamp under the watchful eye of renowned Los Angeles designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. Adding a more modern look to the hotel’s Spanish-colonial facilities, Lawrence-Bullard unites contemporary with traditional design. Nowhere is the designer's talent and passion for eclecticism more evident than at the spa. A bold approach to mixing patterns and colors is evident throughout the Turkish and Moroccan-inspired interior. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences stand out in a bold palette of reds, blacks, browns and whites. Recovered wall murals, Moorish-style tables and lanterns and a traditional Turkish hamman bath contribute to the exotic old-world atmosphere from the treatment rooms, changing areas, relaxing quiet room and fitness center. Treatments pick up where the ambiance leaves off, transporting clients to a distant land marked by perfumed air, fountains of youth and customer service befitting a sultana. Options include cleansing facials, custom massage, body treatments and waxing, drawing on traditional materials such as nutritional enzymes and minerals, aloe and green tea. Perhaps inspired by the setting, highlights on the menu incorporate ingredients and rituals from a bit further afield. Blended sea salts and shea butter combine for a deeply exfoliating body rub, and rich jojoba oil and purifying rosemary are used for a refreshing scalp treatment. Meanwhile, both the signature acupressure facial and the four-handed Super Tandem massage draw on ancient Eastern healing techniques. Though thousands of miles and years from the deserts of Mesopotamia, this little jewel of a spa is steeped in age-old tradition and style. All photos, courtesy of The Colony Palms Hotel.
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“TRANSPORTING CLIENTS TO A DISTANT LAND MARKED BY PERF UMED AIR...”
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SAVOIRE VIVRE OU R GLOB A L TA BL E
SPOILS of
LIVERPOOL A TASTE o f PAST,
LONDON PRESENT AND FUTURE by Erika Mehiel by Keep Rolling Publishing
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A
s its moniker would suggest, restaurant 1901, housed in the Andaz Hotel on Liverpool Street, has a legacy that stretches back over a hundred years. Yet this elegant eatery captivates a thoroughly modern clientele with a scrumptious menu matched by sumptuous decor. Housed in a Grade-II listed ballroom, 1901 remains a testament to the opulence of Georgian England. The sheer size of the room and impossibly-high ceilings create a sweeping, airy atmosphere, and the space is impeccably appointed with an inventive lighting design, sleek Art Deco detailing and a fresh, monochromatic color scheme. The showstopper is truly the stained glass dome that towers overhead. Though decorations this ornate were routinely stolen for the crown by pirates — who also plundered ships in the name of the monarchy, or so it is said — this intricate masterpiece is an original, surviving World War II with only one shattered pane. Since opening its doors a few years ago, 1901 has welcomed many British monarchs, who honored the age-old superstition of drinking wine and eating cheese under this “treasure,” ensuring good luck and future spoils. Against this backdrop it’s easy to indulge, made easier by the restaurateurs. The 1901 serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, boasts a wine bar, “floating” cocktail bar, wine and cheese-cellar, and of course, English Afternoon Tea. There are so many menus it’s almost dizzying — Vegetarian Menu, Set Menu, Tasting Menu, Wine & Cheese pairings — all featuring creative combinations and traditional favorites using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. You can go light and healthy, with a poached Mackerel starter from Cornwall, or Devon Crab tartar, but with fare so decadent, why not go for the gusto? The six-course tasting menu features signature dishes like the Samon Trio (from Loch Fyne), Beef consommé (Aberdeenshire) with marrow dumplings and black truffle ravioli, and a Lamb Rump & Shoulder (Wales) with sweetbreads, polenta and morels. The 350-bottle wine list includes varietals from Europe, South and North America, Africa and Australasia plus gems from the reserve cellar; sommeliers are eager to help with selection for those a bit daunted. Meanwhile, a perfect sweet or savoury finale will be found on the dessert or cheese menus.
MODERN CLIENTELE IS CAPTIVATED BY A SCRUMPTIOUS MENU AND SUMPTUOUS DÉCOR 108 | PQ
1901 can deliver on grandeur in a way that not many establishments can — seamlessly and with flair — but let’s not pigeonhole. It’s as good a spot for royalty as pirates after all. For a working breakfast or lunch there are few better restaurants in the Square Mile, and after work is even better. 1901’s sexy lighting scheme and chic atmosphere make it a go-to spot for happy hour or a date. At the “floating” bar, mixologists prepare inventive cocktails on the outside of the bar, encouraging socialising. The bar menu includes Andaz signature cocktails, 1901 Specials and all manner of gourmet snacks. Top drinkables include Jack’s Martini, a refreshing combination of Hendrick’s Gin, elderflower, cucumber and lemon, named after a famous Ripper that frequented the area, and the Berry Julep made with Kettle One Vodka and marinated berries, shaken with Crème de Mure and lemon. On the potables side
choose from rabbit leg rillette, venison croquettes, truffled polenta chips or an adorable (yet satisfying!) mini fish & chips. In the battle for London’s best bites, 1901 has secured its place as a winner, selected as the official dining partner for the annual City of London Festival. In keeping with this year’s theme of Birds, Bees, Flowers and Trees, 1901 will host a Culinary Concert in July. The exclusive evening will feature music by the Quericus Ensemble and a three-course dinner accompanied by wine and the signature Bumblebee cocktail that was created especially for the occasion. Since opening its doors, 1901 has welcomed many British monarchs, who honored the age-old superstition of drinking wine and eating cheese under this “treasure,” ensuring good luck and future spoils. PQ | 109
TRAVEL WA N DE R LU S T
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¡ VIVA MADRID!
SPAIN’S DIVINE CAPITAL, WHERE CULTURE AND LUXURY MEET by Ariane Marder
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M
adrid has a secret: she’s more than just the Prado. In the past she’s remained comfortably incognito, mischaracterized as the traditional old Dama with her famous museums and promenades, letting cities like Barcelona and Sevilla got all the “cool cred.” Well, after an eye-opening visit I’m happy to leave the teeny bopping to other cities, and indulge in the many finer things this sophisticated city has on offer. Here, you’ll find some of the world’s best art, unstoppable nightlife (giving Manhattan stiff competition in the “city that never sleeps” category) and a thoroughly modern push for urban renewal that involves turning the once-destitute area surrounding the waterfront into a green oasis. In a city that commands your attention with so much to see and do, it can be tricky to pack it all in. Fortunately, the secret to truly experiencing Madrid and all her wonders stands behind the lobby desk at the Hotel Villa Magna: Mr. Angel Masa, head concierge, has been attending to well-heeled guests for 39 years. You’ll recognize him by his unmistakable expertise and his Les Clef’s d’Or pin, of which he served as Spanish chapter president for over a decade. Charming and (most importantly) innovative, Angel always puts his out-of-the-box spin on even the most inane requests. Rumor has it he once dressed guests in costumes and sat them on the stage for a sold-out opera performance. Going to such extraordinary lengths for guests is befitting of a hotel as glamorous as the Villa Magna. A recent renovation has turned its nine floors into accommodations that are luring Hollywood royalty. Celebrities such as Brangelina, Madonna and, most recently, Lenny Kravitz choose the Villa Magna for its discretion and sophistication. Dim lighting (because everyone looks better in low light) leads the way to plush guest rooms outfitted in restored antique furnishings, with large LCD TVs that become mirrors when switched off, and en-suite bathrooms larger than most city bedrooms. Located on Madrid’s widest and longest boulevard, Paseo de Castellano, Villa Magna is only a short distance from “The Golden Triangle” of museums: Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. For those seeking an exceptionally brag-worthy experience, Angel can arrange for a private dinner at the Prado. If dining in the same building that houses one of the world’s most impressive art collections sounds intimidating, he can also suggest one of the city’s leading gastronomic restaurants. He guided me to the Michelin-starred La Terraza del Casino, housed on the second floor of the distinguished men’s club Casino del Madrid. The cuisine, helmed by Paco Roncero (a protégé of El Bulli chef Ferran Adrià), is a show-stopping experience, complete with tableside preparations involving liquid nitrogen. With plates such as marrow with caviar, and razor clam with lemon, juniper and coconut foam, each course is more complex than the last and will make your head spin with its creativity. As is customary, dinner isn’t usually served until ten p.m., so if you show up before then, 112 | PQ
you’ll likely be waiting for the restaurant to open. If you’re wondering where Madrileños go after a night of partying, for what the rest of the world calls “breakfast,” head in the direction of the Chocolatería San Ginés for a decadent serving of churros and hot chocolate — for dipping, not drinking, of course. For those nursing hangovers, the Poncelet Cheese Bar is not only a wine- and cheese-lovers dream, but also an aesthete’s, due to its clean design. The 140 cheeses on offer hail from all over Europe so you’ll likely find yourself, like many before you, wanting to come back for more. Of equal magnetism and indulgence is the San Miguel Market, where cheese, champagne, paella and oysters burst forth from all corners. Recently refurbished, the market is a site to behold and always bustling with both tourists and locals given its location off of Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s central square. Since Madrid is a cosmopolitan city, to leave without shopping would be a crime in itself. Thankfully, Hotel Villa Magna is set in the middle of one of Madrid’s best shopping districts, Salamanca. Angel can set guests up with a personal shopping trip, or you can see for yourself what’s trending on the small-designer circuit at Speed and Bacon. Salamanca is the ideal neighborhood to find something to wear to one of the city’s many clubs, discos and bars that go strong all night long. And, for those traveling with a more generous budget, do yourself a favor and cop an impossibly-soft leather jacket or iconic handbag from Loewe. Besides taking home a sumptuous souvenir, another upside is you can get the tax refunded at the airport. Is it just me, or will justification will get you everywhere? Those who know the city well have a saying: de Madrid al cielo, which translates to “from Madrid to heaven” and means that after you’ve experienced this glorious city, the only thing better would be heaven. Well the secret is out, Madrid is a culture-lover’s paradise on Earth. And remember, if you don’t know where to start, ask the cool-as-a-cucumber head concierge at the Hotel Villa Magna. Unlike you, he knew about lady Madrid’s ample attributes from the start.
All Madrid city photos, courtesy of esMADRID.com.
“ YOU’LL RECOGNIZE HIM BY HIS
UNMISTAKABLE EXPERTISE AND HIS LES CLEF’S D’OR PIN, OF WHICH HE
SERVED AS SPANISH CHAPTER
PRESIDENT
FOR OVER A DECADE.” PQ | 113
Shirt, Gucci. gucci.com. Shorts, Lacoste. lacoste.com. Headband, American Apperal. americanapperal.net Lifestyle Editor: Sara Rotman
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MATCH
GE T P LAY FUL T HI S S P RIN G W I T H S P OR T Y P IE CES IN B LAC K & W HI T E. P H O TO GR AP HE D B Y GA S T ÓN P E R E LLO / S T Y LE D B Y C RI S TOBA L ME LE ND E Z
POINT
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This page: Dress, Ohne Titel. ohnetitel.com. Opposite page: (On her) Jacket, Lanvin. lanvin.com. Blouse and shorts, Vera Wang. verawang.com. Shoes, Balenciaga. balenciaga.com. (On him) Sweater, Thom Browne. thombrowne.com. Shorts, Lacoste. lacoste.com. Sunglasses, Carrera. carreraworld.com. Sneakers, Adidas. adidas.com. Socks, American Apparel. americanapparel.net.
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Shirt, Moncler. moncler.com. Shorts, Lacoste. lacoste.com. Sunglasses, Carrera. carreraworld.com. Sneakers, Adidas. adidas.com. Socks, headband and wristband, American Apparel. americanapparel.net.
PQ | 119
This page: Sweatshirt, Thom Grey. Barneys.com. Shirt and shorts, Lacoste. lacoste.com. Wristband, American Apparel. americanapparel.net. Opposite page: Dress, Gucci. gucci.com. In this story: Models, Silvestre Farrell and Alina Constantini. Hair, Wally Rivas. Makeup and manicure, Mechi Miqueo. Art Direction, Lindsey Ricci Choo. Production, MODCo Creative. Special thanks to Pilarรก - Pilar, Argentina.
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This page: All rings, Sydney Garber. sydneygarber.com. Lip color, Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine in #15 Corail Intuitive. Opposite page: All jewelry, Sydney Garber. sydneygarber.com. Lip color, Nars Sheer Lipstick in Manhunt. Beauty note: SK-II Facial Clear Solution, Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Éclat, Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel Sophistiqué worn throughout. Lifestyle Editor: Sara Rotman
HEAVY METALS TO LUST AFTER THIS SPRING. Photographed by SIMON BURSTALL Styled by MARIO GRAUSO
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SHINE PQ | 123
This page: All watches, Rolex. rolex.com. Lip color, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Palais Royale. Opposite page: All jewelry, Sydney Garber. sydneygarber.com. Lip color, Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Volga. In this story: Model, Laura Love. Hair, Ken O'Rourke. Makeup, Dotti. Manicure, Kiyo Okada. Art Direction, Lindsey Ricci Choo. Production, MODCo Creative.
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Photographed by FABIÁN MORASSUT Styled by CRISTOBAL MELENDEZ
c i t n a rom
R D Y A D 126 | PQ
Top and shorts, Brood. broodbyserkansarier.com. Tiara, Eugenia Kim. eugeniakim.com. Lifestyle Editor: Sara Rotman
M A E R S AND L A R O L F FLIRTY H T I W M O G. IN BLO N I L I A T E D SPRING IS LACEY
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This page: Dress, Vera Wang. verawang.com. Opposite page: Top and skirt, Vera Wang. verawang.com. Necklace, Alexis Bittar. alexisbittar.com. Shoes, Yves Saint Laurent. ysl.com.
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This page: Dress, Gucci. gucci.com. Necklace, Alexis Bittar. alexisbittar.com. Opposite page: Dress, Brood. broodbyserkansarier.com. Bracelets, Alexis Bittar. alexisbittar.com. In this story: Model, Florencia Almada. Hair, Alejandro Reyes. Makeup and manicure, Gabriela Donaire. Art Direction, Lindsey Ricci Choo. Production, MODCo Creative.
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Showcase
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Showcase
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