23-24 NOVEMBER 2012
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WE’D LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR GREAT, GREAT GRANDSON AT HIS EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. For generations of wealth management, Coutts.
MIDDLE EAST
HONG KONG
LONDON
SINGAPORE
GENEVA
Coutts and Company is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Coutts and Company, Office 507, Level 5, Gate Precinct 5, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), PO Box 506833, Dubai, UAE.
Welcome to the inaugural Coutts Polo at the Palace. As headline sponsor of Coutts Polo at the Palace, we are delighted to welcome you to one of the most competitive polo weekends on the international circuit, taking place right here in the heart of the UAE’s capital. Coutts has enjoyed a long history with polo. As one of the Britain’s oldest and most prestigious private banks, in 1999 we celebrated the opening of our first office in the UAE with a polo tournament between leading members of the UAE and British Royal families. Today, we are proud to be associated with a sport rooted in heritage and prestige, so closely aligned with some of our own brand values.
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We would like to extend a sincere thank you to the polo patrons and players, fellow sponsors and, of course, all our guests. We hope you enjoy a superb weekend of high class polo and exclusive hospitality in this majestic setting. Ali Hammad | Managing Director, Co-Head Middle East, Coutts
Amir Sadr | Managing Director, Co-Head Middle East, Coutts
15/11/2012 12:56
Welcome On behalf of the Emirates Palace team, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you for the first ever Coutts Polo at the Palace. Emirates Palace is the perfect setting for this exciting event featuring some of the best teams, players, and ponies for two days of exciting sport, luxury, art and culture. We are confident that this annual event, which brings together icons of sport and luxury, will become one of the most exciting events on Abu Dhabi’s social calendar. For centuries palaces have been centres of hospitality, culture and entertainment; and polo purists know that centuries ago polo got its start on the grounds of palaces not very far from this one. Polo is now played in dozens of countries around the world and we are proud to bring this spectacular tournament to our lush lawns. While you are here we invite you to come inside and enjoy a slice of decadent chocolate cake or aromatic tea in Le Café, or relax after the matches with a cigar in Havana Club, or join us for dinner on the terrace of one of our award-winning restaurants and enjoy gentle sea breezes and the beautiful night sky. Wishing you a memorable weekend full of fun and excitement. Yours Sincerely
Bugra Berberoglu General Manager
You’ll never want to leave
A room at the Palace Set amidst the splendour of Arabian architecture and opulence, your room at The Emirates Palace is the ultimate in luxury and comfort. As our guest, your night sleep is important to us. Each impressive room comes with its own pillow menu, allowing you to choose from a selection of superior pillows, helping to ensure that you are well rested and rejuvenated in the morning. The down in our MĂźhldorfers pillows are cleaned in the clear, calcium free waters of the Bavarian Forest in Germany and then infused with a special antibacterial formula. After ensuring you the best conditions for a peaceful and healthy sleep, your personal Butler will be ready to assist you with your schedule for another blissful day. All of this from a room at the Palace.
You’ll never want to leave emiratespalace.ae
Contents 9 Sponsors Some of the world’s most luxurious brands are sponsoring this inaugural Coutts Polo at the Palace.
11 Map and Timings Be in the right place at the right time so you don’t miss a second of the action.
12 Rules of Polo Coutts Polo at the Palace has re-written the rule book so the game is faster and clearer to follow.
16 A to Z of Polo Make sure you know all the terminology and consult the polo dictionary.
20 Coutts Team Abu Dhabi Check up on the star line-up for the host team.
21 How to Spend It Team London Meet the team from the home of polo.
22 Hublot Team Buenos Aires No one breeds horses like the Argentines.
23 Maserati Team Milan See the Italians bring sporting finesse to the pitch.
25 Legacy in Motion Discover the secret to Italy’s suavest car manufactures, Maserati.
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Chukker Bang. 7'30" Flyback chronograph, made from titanium. Removable titanium grille. Leather and rubber strap. 500-piece limited edition. www.hublot.com •
twitter.com/hublot •
facebook.com/hublot
Sponsors TITLE SPONSOR
VENUE HOST
TEAMS TEAM ABU DHABI
TEAM MILAN, OFFICIAL CAR PARTNER
TEAM BUENOS AIRES, OFFICIAL TIME PARTNER
TEAM LONDON, OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER
OFFICIAL PARTNERS OFFICIAL CLOTHING PARTNER
OFFICIAL COFFEE PARTNER
OFFICIAL POLO PARTNER
DUBAI POLO ACADEMY 9
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NEW•FREE Daily posts Exclusive columns 750+ Gift ideas
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From the FT’s award-winning luxury lifestyle magazine
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FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER, 2012
SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER, 2012
2:00pm
Polo ground opens
2:00pm
Polo ground opens
2.30pm
Polo Match – Hublot Team Buenos Aires vs Maserati Team Milan
2.30pm
Polo Match – Plate Final
4:30pm
Polo Match – Coutts Polo at the Palace Final
6:00pm
Day ends
4:30pm
Team Abu Dhabi vs Cornic Coutts How to Spend It Team London 6:00pm
t
e e r t S t s Polo Match – e We h Day ends
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Rewriting THE RULE BOOK
More exciting and more exhilarating than ever, Coutts Polo at the Palace has rewritten the rule book and created a new form of adrenaline-fuelled polo, right here in the heart of Abu Dhabi. The earliest official rules of polo originate from the Hurlingham Polo Club in England, founded in 1876. Three years later, members of the Westchester Polo Club in Rhode Island, America, asked the British officers to write a definitive version of the Hurlingham Rules and corresponding club rules. These are valid to this day. The Americans then devised the handicap system, which was adopted by Britain and India in 1910. Polo can be played on practically any level field of sufficient size. The ground must be firm and constantly maintained. The official international dimensions of a polo field are 166 yards wide by 300 yards long. However, match organisers are increasingly allowing play on smaller fields. The advantage is that it is easier for spectators to watch. The goal has uprights but no crossbar, and is eight yards wide. Here we explain the old ‘Traditional Rules’ followed by the innovative changes that make up the exciting ‘Palace Rules’ you will see being played today.
TRADITIONAL RULES TEAMS Each team consists of four players. Number 3 is the captain, who commands the team. Number 4, known as “back”, is responsible for defence, while Number 1 and Number 2 are attackers. HANDICAP Depending on aptitude, each polo player has a handicap ranging from -2 to +10. While the entry level of -2 denotes a beginner, around 90% of all polo players have handicaps in the range 0 to +2. National polo associations review and assign players’ handicaps annually, according to success in the tournaments. When a team is put together, the handicaps of the four individual players are combined to give the team figure. Tournaments are advertised in various classes of play (low-, medium- or high-goal), and the team handicaps of the competitors must correspond. CHUKKA A traditional polo match consists of four, five or six time units known as chukkas. In Europe, a match normally consists of four chukkas, each lasting seven minutes. A pony can be played in no more than two chukkas and not in consecutive chukkas. At half-time there is a 5-10 minute break during when the public are asked to “tread in the divots” of turf created by the ponies’ hooves – a timehonoured tradition. DIRECTION OF PLAY Whenever a goal is scored, the direction of play switches. This is to avoid match conditions putting one team at a disadvantage. LINE OF THE BALL The fundamental rule of polo is known as “Right of Way” (ROW). Whenever the ball is in play, a right of way is deemed to be held by the player who is established on,
or at the closest angle to, the Line of the Ball (LOB = the extended path along which the ball has travelled, or is travelling). No other player may enter or cross this ROW. The player with ROW can lose this by being “ridden off ” or “hooked”. “Hooking” means using the stick to prevent the other player from retrieving or striking the ball. This is done by blocking the opponent’s stick during a swing or while the other player is dribbling the ball. It is forbidden to hook over the body of the opponent’s pony. “Riding Off ” means trying to force an opponent off course using a kind of body check, so that the player can no longer hit the ball. This is allowed, provided it takes place parallel, and not at an angle, to the player who has ROW. TAPPING TECHNIQUES In principle, the ball is tapped on the right side of the pony, known as the “offside”. Tapping takes place in a forward or backward direction. For a “nearside” play, which takes place on the pony’s left side, the player has to twist in the saddle and, holding the stick in his right hand, bring it to the other side of the pony. Nearside forehand and nearside backhand are the corresponding forward and backward plays. “Under the neck” refers to strokes performed in front of the pony. Among the trickiest manoeuvres are “round-the-tail” strokes, performed to the rear of the horse. THE POLO PONY The present-day polo pony is 14.5 - 16 hands high or 155160cm, which far exceeds normal pony height. It traces its pedigree back to the crossing of the original Himalayan mountain ponies, the Manipuris of Assam, with English or American thoroughbreds, Arabians and others, especially South American stud horses. The Argentinian polo breed still dominates. These horses are masters of the sudden burst of speed. Brave and pugnacious, their agility and alertness are unrivalled.
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THE NEW ‘PALACE RULES’ City Polo Series has made changes to the game in order to create a much more spectator-friendly game – both for those watching it live, as well as for those spectators around the globe who are viewing the action via television. THE PITCH AND THE ‘D’ RING The pitch isn’t made from four sides anymore! It’s octagonal. The eight-sided pitch is a shorter length, 210 yards, and it is the narrower width of 88 yards. The corners have also been cropped to keep the ball in play for longer. The goal-posts remain eight yards apart and there is still a centre line with a starting marker in the middle of it. The difference here is that the penalty line markers have been removed and replaced with a ‘D’ ring, as one might find in hockey or basketball. A goal scored inside the ‘D’ ring is rewarded with one goal and a goal scored outside is awarded two goals. THE EQUIPMENT Helmets, face guards, mallets, knee pads and other equipment that is in direct contact with the polo pony remains much the same. The big change here is the ball – a specially designed ball replaces the small, hard wooden balls of traditional polo. This new ball, slightly larger, still has pace off the mallet, but its size and material allows players to better show off their amazing skills. NUMBERS The pitch is smaller, the action is closer and the player numbers are reduced – from four to three. This pushes the players to be more creative, instinctive and innovative, creating a more exciting game.
THE START City Polo Series have created the most exciting ‘Kick-Off ’ of any sport in the world especially for Palace Polo. The Palace ‘Hero Dash’ sees the ball placed by the umpire on the half way line. Both teams line up behind their own goal line. As the match starts, a rider from each team makes a dash to the ball – a mad ride off that will see only the fastest and bravest rider and pony combination gain that all important first possession. CHANGING ENDS The complicated rule of changing ends every time a goal is scored has been replaced with the new rule of changing ends after each half of the game. UMPIRES Usually the game is umpired by one or two mounted umpires with a single side-line umpire. City Polo Series has adopted more advanced judgement techniques. With the backup use of television playback, City Polo Series Umpires will have access to comprehensive close-ups of the play. SPECTATOR VISION Spectators watching the game live will see close up action on a huge television screen. GOAL HIT Players will hit out after a goal when the umpires call play.
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Polo
THE A-Z OF
Immerse yourself in the spirit of the game with an alphabetical guide to all things polo.
A
D
H
APPEALING
DIVOTS
HANDICAP
Claims by players for a foul, generally expressed by the raising of sticks above their heads.
Turf kicked up by ponies hooves. Spectators are invited to tread these back in at half time.
Depending upon ability, each polo player has a handicap ranging from -2 to +10. While the entry level of -2 denotes a novice, around 90% of all polo players have handicaps in the range 0 to +2. National polo associations review and assign players’ handicaps annually according to the players’ success in the tournaments. When a team is put together, the handicaps of the four individual players are added together to give the total team handicap eg., a team consisting of players with the following handicaps, -2, 0, 4 and 2 equals a 4 goal team. Tournaments are advertised in various classes of play (low-goal, medium-goal or high-goal) and the class corresponds to the team handicap eg low-goal polo is normally for teams with a total handicap of -8 to 4, medium-goal is from +4 to +16 and high-goal is +16 up to a maximum of +40.
B
E
BALL
ENDS
Traditionally white and made of plastic or wood, ‘Palace Polo’ uses a specially designed ball that allows players to better show off their amazing skills.
The back lines of the polo pitch. Traditionally teams change ends, i.e. switch the halves they defend, each time a goal is scored in order to equalise wind and turf conditions. In ‘Palace Polo’ – teams change ends only at half time.
BELL OR HOOTER This is situated off the side of the field and is rung by the time keeper to inform umpires when seven minutes of play in chukka have elapsed.
BUMP A bump or ‘ride-off ’ is permitted to let players try and spoil another’s shot or to move them out of play. The angle of contact must be no more than 45 degrees. The faster the pony travels, the smaller the angle must be.
C CHUKKA Traditional polo matches consist of either four, five or six time units known as a chukka. The class of polo being played denotes how many chukkas to a match eg, low-goal polo is usually four chukkas long, medium-goal five chukkas and high-goal is six. Each chukka represents seven minutes of play time. At half time there is a 5-10 minute break during which the public are asked to “tread in the divots” of turf created by the ponies’ hooves – a time-honoured tradition!
EQUIPMENT Hard helmets for players are compulsory. Faceguards, knee pads, whips and spurs are optional.
F FIELD A full-size traditional polo field is 300 yards by 160 yards. Ours is 210 yards by 88 yards – bringing you all closer to the action!
G GOAL Any time the ball fully crosses, at any height, the line between the goalposts, it is a goal regardless of who knocks it through, including a pony.
HERO DASH Unique to City Polo Series and Palace Polo – this is the most exhilarating ’KickOff ’ of any sport in the world. The Palace ‘Hero Dash’ sees the ball placed by the umpire on the half way line. Both teams line up behind their own goal line. As the match starts, a rider from each team makes a dash to the ball – a mad ride off that will see only the fastest and bravest rider and pony combination gain that all important first possession.
HIGH GOAL Traditionally teams with a total handicap from 17 to 24 goals are regarded as ‘High Goal’ but in ‘Palace Rules’ this number is reduced to 14 due to the teams featuring one player less.
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H
K
O
HOOK
KNOCK-IN
OUT-OF-BOUNDS
A player uses their mallet to block or interfere with an opponent’s swing by hooking the mallet of the other player with their own mallet. A player may only hook if they are on the side where the swing is being made, or directly in front of or behind an opponent.
If a team hits the ball over the opponent’s back line during an attack, the defending team resumes the game with a free hit from the back line where the ball went over. It is equivalent to a goal kick in soccer.
When a ball goes over the sideboards, it is considered out-of-bounds. The umpire throws the ball in between the two teams lined up at the point at which it left the field of play.
HPA (THE HURLINGHAM POLO ASSOCIATION) This is the governing body of the game in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The HPA is extremely influential internationally and influence all other polo bodies. They have given their blessing to the City Polo Series’ Palace Rules.
I INTERVALS The three-minute long rest periods between quarters. Half-time is seven minutes.
J JUDGES Goal judges are positioned behind each goal to signal when a goal has been scored. Hard hats are worn for protection.
L LINE OF THE BALL ‘Crossing the line’ is the most frequent foul in polo. The line of the ball, namely the imaginary line along which the ball travels, represents a right of way for the player following nearest that line. There are strict rules governing opponents’ entry in to the right of way in the interest of safety.
M MALLET / STICK The shaft is made from bamboo cane or graphite composite and the head from a hard wood. The wide face of the stick head is used to strike the ball. Polo sticks range in length according, principally, to the height of the pony played and extend from 48 to 54 inches.
N NEARSIDE
OFFSIDE The right-hand side of the pony. There is no offside of players in the game of polo.
P PENALTY A free hit is awarded when a foul is committed.
PONIES Although termed ‘ponies’, they are in fact horses above 14.2 hands. Most are of the Argentine Criollo breed, or pure or cross thoroughbreds. Their main qualities are speed and stamina, and temperaments that are amenable to the rigours of the game. There is no height limit for the ponies, although most are between 15 and 15.3 hands. Bandages or leg wraps are used for support and protection. Players admit that the pony can account for as much as 80 per cent of their overall performance.
R
The left-hand side of the pony.
RIDE-OFF
NECKSHOT
Two riders may make contact and push each other off the line to prevent the other from striking the ball. It is primarily intended for the ponies to do the pushing, players are allowed to use their body, but not their elbows.
A ball which is hit under the pony’s neck.
RINGER A player or pony who performs well above expectation.
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Polo
THE A-Z OF
S
U
SAFETY
UMPIRES
Also known as a ‘penalty 6’, a safety is awarded when a defending player hits the ball over his own back line. The free shot is taken 60 yards out from the back line, opposite the point at which the ball went over. It is equivalent to a corner in soccer. No defender can be nearer than 30 yards from the ball when it is played.
Two mounted umpires (one for each side of the field).
SIDEBOARD
W
Or ‘Pitch Hoarding’ – these are 1.2m high barriers lining the pitch-side separating spectators from the action. Players also ‘play off ’ this sideboard to keep play flowing.
T TAILSHOT Hitting the ball behind and under the pony’s rump.
TAKE HIM OUT An exhortation to a team-mate to ride off an opponent to take him away from the play.
TIME-OUT Called by an umpire when a foul is committed, an accident occurs, or at his discretion. A player may call time-out if he has broken a key piece of tack or is injured. Time-out is not permitted for changing ponies or for replacing a broken stick, although a player may do so at any time.
TREADING IN
V VIP The team patron.
WELLINGTONS Rubber boots ideal for treading-in the divots during wet weather (well maybe not in UAE!)
X X-RAY VISION The ability to look through your opponent to see the next available play.
Y YOUR LINE Words often heard shouted by players to a team-mate indicating that he has, rather than an opponent, the principal right of way to the ball.
Z ZEALOUS How you will feel about polo after your day at Coutts Polo at the Palace!
At half-time, the crowd is called upon to replace divots of turf that have been kicked up.
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www.nespresso.com/magazine
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TEAM ABU DHABI SPONSOR
TEAM ABU DHABI What Abu Dhabi lacks in polo history it makes up for in determination. Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club boasts eight floodlit polo fields and is renowned for some of the fastest and most skilful polo in the UAE.
CAPTAIN - FARIS AL YEBHOUNI Coming from a UAE family with a strong tradition of excellence in camel racing and horse endurance racing, Faris Al Yebhouni is well acquainted with the world of equestrian sports. He has been playing polo for over nine years and has gained a 0 goal handicap. A medium goal patron, Al Yebhouni led the Abu Dhabi Polo Team to victory in the 2011 Threadneedle Gold Cup. In 2012, he won the Silver Cup and was third in the Gold Cup. Since then, Al Yebhouni has focused on his team and improving their dynamics for the 2013 Season. Al Yebhouni also plays in England and Argentina every year.
MARTIN ITURRASPE Martin Iturraspe is 31-years-old and plays with a 5 goal handicap. He grew up playing from a very young age in Argentina but only turned professional in 2002. His first professional job was in Ireland and he went from there to play a very successful European circuit. His notable wins include the Deauville Gold Cup and the Sotogrande Silver Cup. This will be his first time in Dubai and he’s very excited to be playing in such an iconic location.
SANTIAGO LABORDE Santiago Laborde or ‘Santi’ to his friends, also plays with a 5-goal handicap. Laborde has been playing polo since infancy and only became professional a few years ago. He has played all over South America and Europe and has been successful in France and Spain. Laborde spends most of his time playing in Sotogrande, Spain for Ayala Polo Team. In August 2012 he won the Hublot Silver Cup playing at Santa Maria Polo Club in Sotogrande. Laborde and Iturraspe have played together a few times and they are extremely excited to be playing their first Abu Dhabi game.
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TEAM LONDON SPONSOR, OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER
TEAM LONDON Military officers imported the game to Britain in the 1860s and the Hurlingham Club in London drew up the official set of rules in 1874. As the home of polo, the pressure is on for London to be victorious.
CAPTAIN - STUART WRIGLEY Stuart Wrigley started playing polo in 2010 having never ridden a horse before and quickly became addicted. Stuart is the 0-goal patron of Rhinos Polo Team in Dubai. The Rhinos compete at all levels of polo in Dubai and several times a season in Thailand up to and including 15-goal. Last season they won tournaments ranging for 4 to 12-goal in Dubai, Argentina, and China. Stuart has played polo in Argentina, China, France, Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and the UK.
PETER WEBB Peter Webb is 38 years old and plays with a 5-goal handicap. Over the past 20 years of his career he has played in all corners of the globe and has represented England on many occasions. Among his achievements, Peter has won the British Open; the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, considered to be Europe’s most prestigious tournament, The Cartier Queen’s Cup and the Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup.
WILL EMERSON Will Emerson is 30 years old and also plays with a 5-goal handicap. He captained England to victory in the European Championships in 2000 and to third place in 2004. In 2006, he captained England to a successful 2-1 tour in Pakistan. In recent years, he has been competing in the 12, 15 and 18-goal coveted Victor Ladorum tournaments in England with many tournament successes and often accompanied by Peter Webb. In the Argentine polo season, Will manages La Aguada, one of the most prestigious polo resorts and teams in the world with the Novillo Astrada brothers.
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TEAM BUENOS AIRES SPONSOR, OFFICIAL TIME PARTNER
TEAM BUENOS AIRES Argentinian play is renowned for its passion and agility. Buenos Aires hosted the first polo world championship in 1987. Its strong polo heritage derives its skilful riders and stud ponies from gaucho cattle herders on the pampas.
CAPTAIN - MOHAMMED AL HABTOOR In 2000, he formed Habtoor Polo and with his brother Rashid, organised several polo tournaments in the UAE including the Habtoor Challenge Match in 2008 and Habtoor Polo Cup in 2009 where he played alongside his son Habtoor and won both titles. In 2010, he formed the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series and at MINT Polo in the Park 2012 his Abu Dhabi Team won the MINT Trophy.
GUILLERMO CUITINO Born in Argentina in 1972, Guillermo Cuitino started riding at three-years-old and started playing polo at the age of nine. He has played in a professional capacity since 1992 and has travelled the world, currently playing off 6 goals. A big highlight of his career was playing for his home country and winning the Copa Provindia and Campania Deldesierto, twice. Cuitino is currently based in the Middle East playing for the Habtoor Polo team where earlier this year he lead them to a stunning victory scoring the winning goal at the Dubai Gold Cup.
JACK RICHARDSON Jack Richardson, 21 years old, has been playing polo professionally for three years. He started playing alongside adults at Knepp Castle and Cowdray when he was just seven years old, has won the top section Gannon four times, is a member of the young England polo squad and now holds a 4 goal handicap. Jack recently played for England, against New Zealand, in the Federation of International Polo World Cup. This year he will be playing 8, 12, 15 and 18 goal tournaments with teams including Lila Pearson’s Cowdray Vikings team, Simon Arbers Four Quarters and Adriano Agostis Altimera.
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TEAM MILAN SPONSOR, OFFICIAL CAR PARTNER
TEAM MILAN The second largest city in Italy, Milan is better known for its footballing skills than polo. However, when it comes to horses, no one knows stallions like the Italians. It will be a tight game when this team perform.
CAPTAIN - AMR F. ZEDAN Saudi National Amr F. Zedan is an avid polo enthusiast who plays for the GCC Polo team. He started his career in Qualcomm in the Telecommunication on CDMA Technology, Saudi Arabia. He then worked as Project Development Engineer in Zedan Consultants and subsequently developed Zedan Consultants into Zedan Group, where he acts as Group Chairman and President. Zedan Group is a specialized company actively involved in oil, gas, petrochemicals, power, water, trading, mining and land excavation. Zedan is also a member of the Young President Organization and Young Arab Leaders.
MATIAS MACHADO Matias Machado started playing polo professionally at 16-years-old, playing in Argentina and the USA and he now holds a handicap of four. Machado played in the USA for five years, at all the levels up to 22-goals in Florida. In 2007, he moved to England and Dubai, working for the Dubai polo team. Machado will not buy any ponies of his own while he continues to work with the top-class horses of the Dubai polo team. His favourite place to play is Argentina, but England comes a very close second.
NICOLAS PETRACCHI Nicolas Petracchi, 39-years-old, started playing polo on his parent’s farm in Entre Rios, Argentina when he was 10. Now living in Dubai with his wife and two daughters, he rates 4 goals on grass. Nico has a degree in international trade but became a professional polo player in 2002 when he moved to Dubai. He now works for the Bin Drai Polo Team, playing, coaching and managing. Nico has been in 5 finals out 6 tournaments for the 12 and 15 goal level and last year won the Cartier Cup. Nico plays in the UK during the Dubai summer months.
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L
egacy in Motion
Luxury, elegance and speed: Maserati, one of Italy’s most famous car manufacturers, has an untold story to tell. FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS History & Heritage Ever since its beginnings in 1914, Maserati has played a consistently important role in the history of sports car culture and its development. Nearly a century of activity has brought with it glorious achievements both on the road and the track, which have helped forge the company’s character and personality. Maserati’s history involves more than its glorious sporting achievements and the launch of great road cars. The company has also developed industrially over the years. Craftsmanship, class-leading performance, exclusivity and a love of engineering finesse: this is the combination of values behind the Maserati legend. Tradition, Elegance and Passion Maserati is proud of its long and glorious heritage which offered people a first taste of the style that would dominate car design for many years to come. Maserati produces unmatched grand touring luxury sports cars with a distinctive Italian character that provides a unique experience, turning ownership into an engaging relationship. Maserati’s passion comes from striving for perfection and dedication. This passion is capable of blending craftsmanship and a love for design, with a dash of competition and a taste for a challenge thrown in. All in the name of a race towards true excellence. Italian Way, Italian Design Maserati has travelled a long way since 1914, often coming first, not only in races all over the world but also in establishing a style surpassing all fashions, opening the way to a uniquely Italian way of building cars, a combination of creative excellence, performance and class. A philosophy that led to the birth of cars that were immediately applauded as the pinnacle of the Italian and international automotive industry, proving that with passion no goal is out of reach.
Refinement, Materials and Personalisation Each car boasts all of the refinement, luxury and sportiness for which the marque is renowned. By definition, a Maserati is tailor-made, a reflection of its owner’s personality: from the choice of colours to the handling, not to mention every detail of the interior. Every feature reflects the care with which the car has been forged, stitched and inlaid with the most precious materials in the Maserati workshops - an absolute work of art, tailored to perfection. Sporting Performance and Exhaust Sound Words cannot express the thrill of a Maserati engine: its deep tones at low rpm and its massive roar at higher speeds express both power and discretion and a capacity to respond to the driver’s commands that transform the pleasure of driving into a higher category of joy. In every Maserati, all the construction features and high-tech solutions function in perfect harmony, complementing each other to deliver a unique driving experience. Technology and Innovation Every Maserati car is the result of an ambition to build unique cars with a great character, created to provide pure emotion. Today, advanced technology is a must, and Maserati conducts constant research into innovative solutions to make its cars even safer and more exciting to drive while pursuing the need to cut emissions and fuel consumption. 25
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egacy in Motion
VEHICLES OF INSPIRATION Maserati GranCabrio
The Maserati GranCabrio range is for those who take pleasure from good taste and who appreciate Italian power and elegance. The open-top, fourseater GranCabrio evokes Maserati’s renowned tradition and experience and offers the chance to share a fantastic driving experience with those you love, enhanced by top quality materials, the aroma of prestigious woods and refined leather.
Maserati Quattroporte
A car of unique, exclusive elegance, the perfect combination of style and power: this is the Maserati Quattroporte range. Its styling conveys a strong personality. The interiors have exquisite finishing created by the finest craftsmanship and can be personalized down to the very smallest details. Taking the wheel of the Maserati Quattroporte means travelling in exclusive luxury with driving pleasure, safety and excitement assured.
Maserati GranTurismo
The Maserati GranTurismo range is intended for those looking to combine power and elegance. These cars guarantee handling that will bring joy to the hearts of the most demanding drivers. The Maserati GranTurismo is the first modern, two-door, four-seater coupĂŠ that delivers much more than its sensual beauty initially suggests. With its adventurous design and surprising long-distance driving practicality, it is a car that can be used every day.
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