Habtoor starts the Gold Cup with a great victory

Mohammed Al Habtoor won “The battle of brothers” after defeating Rashid´s team by 6 goals to 5

Habtoor Polo defeated Mahra by 6 goals to 5 in their first match of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2013.

Despite leading the game from the second chukka till the end, the Silver Cup champions had to work really hard to win the match

Mahra Polo played their best game of the season and fought till the end of the game.

No goals where scored in the first chukka but in the second period Habtoor Polo quickly took the lead with two goals from Guillermo Cuitino and one by Ezequiel Martínez. The reaction of Mahra came in the last minutes with goals by Agustín Canale and Fernando Bordieu.

It was in the third chukka when Habtoor showed their best polo taking a three goal advantage, one of them scored by Mohammed Al Habtoor in a great individual action, that seemed to give them strengh for the last period.

But Mahra never gave up and battled to keep a close distance in the scoreboard.

In the last chukka, Ezequiel Martinez added a new goal for Habtoor and despite the continuing effort of Mahra they close the match by winning 6 goals to 5.

The Gold Cup continues next thursday with the match between Bin Drai and Zedan from 3 pm in the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club.

Thank you to Gonzalo Etcheverry/DubaiPoloGoldCupSeries for the pictures

Ghantoot and Abu Dhabi started the Dubai Polo Gold Cup tournament with victories

Ghantoot and Abu Dhabi started the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2013, winning their respectives matches against Zedan Polo and Bin Drai.

 

The Gold Cup started with two great games, full of action and suspense.

In the first game of the day at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Ghantoot defeated Zedan Polo by 5 goals to 4 in a attractive match played with real intensity.

Zedan presented a new team, with Guillermo Healy and Mariano Uranga in substitution of Rodolfo Ducos, injured, and Matías Logiocco. Patron Amr Zedan´s team made a good game against the powerfull foursome of Ghantoot in a match that broke the even score in the final chukka of the game.

Facundo Sola led his team to an important victory in their way to the Gold Cup title scoring the five goals of Ghantoot.

In the second match of the day, Bin Drai battle really hard against Abu Dhabi who finally won the game by 7 goals to 6 in the last 30 seconds of the match.

Abu Dhabi led the game during the first three chukkas but in the last period Bin Drai, with a superb Juanjo Brane, made a great comeback. Saeed Bin Drai´s team tied the game at six goals and had the chance to win the match but an heroic save by Juachi Ambroggio in his goal post and the following attack that ended with a goal by Manuel Elizalde gave Abu Dhabi a dramatic victory.

Ghantoot Win Opening Dubai Gold Cup Clash 5-4 Against Zedan

Facundo Sola Scores All Five Of His Side’s Goals

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club have made a rousing start to their Dubai Gold Cup campaign, defeating Zedan Polo 5-4 in the tournament’s opening match this afternoon at Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club.

The Abu Dhabi-based side is in fine form at the moment, having claimed a 9-7 victory over defending Dubai Gold Cup champions and home side, Habtoor Polo at the weekend in a high-goal charity polo match held at Ghantoot that raised Dhs163,000 for the Al Ain Private Centre For Care and Rehabilitation.

This afternoon it was Facundo Sola, Ghantoot’s eight-goal Argentine professional, who scored all five of his side’s goals, three of which came from penalties.

Scores were tied at 1-1 after the first chukker, 2-2 after the second and 3-4 to Ghantoot after the third. In the fourth chukker Zedan’s nine goal player, Nachi Heguy missed a decisive penalty, and Sola capitalised by scoring in open play to make the score 5-3. Heguy came back strongly with a goal for 5-4, just before the claxon signaled the end of the match.

Ali al Marri, Ghantoot’s Emirati player said his side was satisfied with their effort.

“It’s always the aim to start a tournament with a win and we are very pleased to go into our next game on a high note,” said the scratch handicapper. “We are having a busy season so I think that for us, the main thing will be conserving as much of our strength as possible as we look forward to our next match against Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The Dubai Gold Cup was preceded by the Dubai Silver Cup, which saw Ghantoot knocked out at the semi-final stage by city rivals, Abu Dhabi Polo. It was a golden goal in extra time which denied the Royal club a final berth.

“We played very well in the Dubai Silver Cup and just missed out on the final,” said Al Marri. “Every game is these tournaments are very close and the difference between winning and losing often comes down to one goal – as was the case today against Zedan.”

In the other match Bin Drai Polo were edged out by the 2013 Dubai Polo Silver Cup champions Abu Dhabi in another tight game 7-6.

HH Sheikha Maitha leads Desert Palm team to victory in Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge 2013

Impressive polo final played in presence of HRH Princess Haya

Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum won the prestigious Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge last Friday. HH Sheikha Maitha was a key member of the Desert Palm team which had impressed all week, coming to the final unbeaten and hot favourite for the trophy.  In this thrilling final, Desert Palm narrowly defeated last year’s winners Cartier 6.5-6.

HH Sheikha Maitha received the trophy and her winners’ prize from the patron of this event, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Princess Haya was accompanied by Mr Louis Ferla, Managing Director of Cartier Middle East and Mr Ali Albwardy of Desert Palm.

In addition to awarding prizes to the winning team, HRH Princess Haya also presented Mariano Uranga with the La Martina Most Valuable Player Award. She also placed the La Martina Best Playing Pony Rug on HH Sheikha Maitha’s horse Salinas, which was played by Martin Valent in the 1^st and 3^rd chukkas. Meanwhile, HRH Princess Haya received a special trophy from Cartier in recognition of her long-standing support of this polo event

Four pro-am teams have been playing hard all week in this prestigious Cartier competition, now in its 8^th year, and the many illustrious guests and team sponsors, Emirates NBD, CNN and Desert Palm were today treated to two superb displays of fast paced and exciting polo. This included an earlier subsidiary final, for the Desert Palm Trophy, in which CNN defeated Emirates NBD 7.5-6.

To ensure that the players’ and ponies’ style was as elegant as their play, La Martina retained its Official Team Kit Supplier status, while the Porsche Centre Dubai, in its role as Official Car Supplier, ensured that both VIPs and players arrived on time. Pommery made a welcome return to this event this year, hosting a reception after Friday’s finals –the perfect way to conclude such a magnificent tournament.

Zedan Polo Launch Dubai Gold Cup Bid Monday

Side Faces Rematch With Silver Cup Sub Final Winners, Ghantoot 

  UAE’s Highest Handicapped Player, Nachi Heguy Takes Centre Stage

Zedan Polo, led by Argentine nine-goal star, Nachi Heguy, will face Ghantoot Polo, the team that knocked them out the Dubai Silver Cup in their opening Dubai Gold Cup match on Monday. 

Zedan’s Saudi Arabian patron, and scratch polo player, Amr Zedan, Argentine ace, Nachi Heguy, the highest-ranked player in the UAE with a nine goal handicap, Matias Logioco who plays off three and Rodolfo Ducos a four goal player, have been practicing hard for this tournament.

Amr Zedan

“We competed in the Dubai Silver Cup earlier this month and didn’t get as far as we had hoped,” said Zedan. “But that’s polo and you live and learn. We didn’t play badly, but we started our season a little later than most of the other teams and we have just taken a while to get into the swing of things.”

Zedan, head of the Zedan Group, an energy conglomerate, put together Zedan Polo in 2010 and the side has since become a well-respected and highly-competitive polo outfit throughout the Middle East and in the wider polo-playing world.

Heguy, from the famous Heguy polo-playing dynasty of Argentina is a winner of four Argentine Opens, the toughest polo tournament in the world, and is one of only a handful of players to have made it to a ten handicap. 

Amr Zedan

The Dubai Silver Cup, the first tournament in the Dubai Gold Cup series held at Dubai Poloe & Equestrian Club (DPEC) throughout February and March, saw Zedan Polo leave proceedings before the knock-out stages, after losing to Ghantoot 8-4 in an injury-hit match.

“We had a little bit of bad luck, with Rodolfo opting to rest a recurring knee problem, but we certainly aren’t using that as an excuse,” said Zedan. “ We’ve got everything to play for on Monday and we’ll be going into that match knowing that if we play our best polo we can come out of it the winners and that would be our aim.

“We are very well mounted and we have a very strong team so we are really looking forward to getting out their and playing Ghantoot again.”

Zedan take on Ghantoot at 230pm on Monday at the DPEC ground located near Arabian Ranches in Dubai.

Ghantoot Defeat Habtoor 9-7 in High Goal ‘Royal Signature’ Event

Abu Dhabi Side Gets Confidence Boost Ahead of Next Week's Gold Cup

Dhs 112,000 raised for Al Ain Private Centre for Care and Rehabilitation

A high-goal charity match at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club has raised Dh112,000 for the Al Ain Private Centre for Care & Rehabilitation this evening  after the hosts beat Habtoor Polo in a 9-7 clash.

The 20-goal match, the highest handicapped polo to be played in the UAE this season was a new addition to Ghantoot’s polo calendar and is held under the patronage of the club’s chairman, HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Both sides are about to contest the Dubai Gold Cup, which takes place at Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club all next week. Ghantoot’s victory over defending champions, Habtoor Polo at this stage will bring a lot of confidence to the Royal club.

Ghantoot’s Facundo Sola scored six goals, Juan Jaurechte two and Emirati player, Ahmed Al Nueimi one. For Habtoor, Martinez Ferrairo got four, while Mohammed al Habtoor, Guillermo Cuitino and Salvador Ulloa all got one.

“To win a charity match for such a good cause is a really great feeling, said Ghantoot’s Facundo Sola. “It was a very exciting game, which is what you would expect from 20-goal polo.

“We know we are playing well, having just missed out in the semi-final of the Dubai Silver Cup last week, when losing 10-9 to Abu Dhabi. Habtoor went on to win that tournament and they are obviously a team in great form, so our win today was a fantastic confidence boost.”

Ghantoot face a rematch with Saudi Arabian side, Zedan Polo in the opening game of the Dubai Gold Cup on Monday, and Zedan will be out for revenge after Ghantoot dumped them out of the Silver Cup last week.

“There is a lot to play for next week and having got so close in the Silver Cup, it just makes us all the more hungry for success in the Gold Cup. We know all the sides very well and we know exactly what they are capable of.

“There are no easy matches in any of the tournaments in the UAE so we hope we can continue in the same vein on Monday,” said Sola, who emerged as the Silver Cup’s highest goal scorer with a total of 16 for the tournament.

H E. Saeed Bin Houfan Al Mansouri, Vice Chairman of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club said: “We would like to extend our thanks to all the people who supported us today. It was a fun, family day out and that is exactly what we hoped to achieve in organising this match.”

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club would like to extend its thanks to French painter, Remi Bertoche who generously donated one of his works of art to the charity auction, as well as Aigner the supporting sponsor, Media Partner, Al Medmar Magazine,  Exclusive Polo Media Partner, Polo Line International and PQ Magazine.

The Al Ain Private Center for Care and Rehabilitation was founded in 1999 through the personal initiative of a father of an autistic child.

The center was established to provide basic education and care services for limited number of children who required extra help. A non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organisation, the centre is currently housed in a villa with 20 classrooms to provide education and rehabilitation to 120 children.

The facility can also house residential pupils and it currently hosts 73 children of which 33 come from GCC counties.

HH Sheikha Maitha makes the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge Final at first attempt

Desert Palm versus Cartier in epic battle at Desert Palm

HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Desert Palm team are through to the final of this year’s Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge Tournament. Scoring her team’s first and last goals in the last league match of the competition, Desert Palm, who received half a goal on handicap, overwhelmed the talented Emirates NBD team 9.5-2. The Sheikha’s team will now face Cartier, the current holders of the tournament, in tomorrow’s final. They had defeated the CNN team (received half a goal) 5-4.5 to earn their ticket through. Both Cartier patrons, Saeed Bin Drai and Adriano Agosti, are hugely experienced at this event and so it may all just come down to pony power on the day.

As well as this great match, Cartier’s many illustrious guests have the opportunity to watch another good game –for the subsidiary Desert Palm Trophy. In addition there will also be awards for the Best Playing Pony and the Most Valuable Player in the main final. Both of these have been sponsored by La Martina, the Official Kit Supplier to this event.

Each match tomorrow will begin when the first ball of the game is dropped from a Porsche 911 Cabriolet, provided by the event’s Official Car Supplier Porsche Centre Dubai. Great games, combined with Cartier’s impressive guest list, camels resplendent in their Cartier camel blankets and an elegant cocktail reception, sponsored by Pommery, to bring the day to a close – the 2013 Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge Final will be a day to remember. 

CARTIER INTERNATIONAL DUBAI POLO CHALLENGE TEAMS 2013

Desert Palm:  HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (UAE)0;Guillermo Healy (1); Martin Valent (ARG) 5;Facundo Castagnola (ARG) 6.

Cartier: Adriano Agosti (CH) 0; Saeed Bin Drai (UAE) 0; Mariano Uranga (ARG) 6; Juan Jose Brane (ARG) 7.

Emirates NBD: Amr Zedan (KSA) 0; Saad Audeh (JOR) 0; Ignacio Heguy (ARG) 9; Rodolfo Ducos (ARG) 4.

CNN: Faris Al Yabhouni (UAE) 0; Jonathan Munro Ford (AUS) -1; Juan Ambroggio (ARG)7; Chris Hyde (UK) 6.

Ghantoot Launches ‘Royal Signature’ Charity Event

20-Goal Match Held To Benefit Al Ain Private Centre For Care & Rehabilitation

The highest goal polo match of the season is to be held at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club to raise money for the Al Ain Private Centre for Care and Rehabilitation this Saturday, February 23.

A new addition to the Royal club’s season, the 20-goal match is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

Spectators will witness the clash of some of the best polo players in the UAE when Abu Dhabi’s Ghantoot Polo clashes with Dubai’s Habtoor Polo.

Promoted through all colleges and schools in the UAE, the exhibition match aims to bring to the attention of the young people of the UAE the different paths that those with special needs must take in life.

All proceeds from the family polo day will be donated to the centre.

The children from the centre will also be invited to attend the fun day and beforehand will also be treated to a private tour of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club where they will meet the polo ponies and players.

H E. Saeed Bin Houfan Al Mansouri, Vice Chairman of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club said: “This event has been organised as a way to offer a fun and family-centred day to the youngsters from the Al Ain Private Centre For Care and Rehabilitation and also to highlight the important work that the centre does to the UAE community.

“We hope that members of the public in the UAE will get on board for such a worthwhile cause and come along and support us. There will be many activities for children put on throughout the day as well as a 20-goal polo tournament which will provide a great deal of excitement and interest.” 

Gates open at 3pm and match starts at 5pm Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club.

The Al Ain Private Center for Care and Rehabilitation was founded in 1999 through the personal initiative of a father of an autistic child.

The center was established to provide basic education and care services for limited number of children who required extra help. A non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organization, the centre is currently housed in a villa with 20 classrooms to provide education and rehabilitation to 120 children.

The facility can also house residential pupils and it currently hosts 73 children of which 33 come from GCC counties.

Saturday, 23^rd of February 2013

Exhibition Polo Match

Habtoor Polo Team  vs Ghantoot Polo Team

Ghantoot PoloTeam:

1.        Ahmed Al Neaimi (0 Hcp)

2.        Juan Jauretche (5 Hcp)

3.        Hugo Barabucci (7 Hcp)

4.        Facundo Sola (8 Hcp)

Total Team Handicap 20

Habtoor Polo Team

1. Habtoor Al Habtoor (0 Hcp)…1

2. Guillermo Cuitino (6 Hcp)…....4

3. Martinez Ferrairo (7 Hcp) …...2

4. Salvador Ulloa (7 Hcp)…….....3

Total Team Handicap 20

PROGRAM OF EVENT

3:00PM - Gates open Family activities with Kids fun-zone, camel and pony rides, meet the polo players and some others fun surprises. Food & Beverages are available on food-cord stands. Families are welcome to bring a Picnic Basket.

4:45PM - Stick and ball warm up Team

4:55PM - National Anthem

5:00PM - Polo Exhibition Game: Ghantoot Polo Team vs. Habtoor Polo Team

6:15PM - Awarding Ceremony & Cheque Donation giving

6:30PM - Art Auction

7:00PM - Raffle Draw Prize

Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge 2013 - Day 2

Game 1   

Desert Palm   12     5    CNN

Desert Palm make it 2 in a row and look likely to make it to Friday’s final

Game 2

Cartier  8     2      Emirates NBD

Cartier find their winning form and dominate the second game on the Hotel Ground. Now have all to play for in tomorrow’s final league matches.

Thursday’s games on the Clubhouse Ground

2.30pm:  Cartier v CNN (rec ½ goal)         

3.45pm:  Desert Palm (rec ½ goal)  v Emirates NBD

Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge 2013 Day 1 Results

Game 1

Desert Palm (rec ½ goal) 7½   - 6  Cartier

Really fast game and this is day one so these teams will only get faster!

Game 2

Emirates NBD 6 - 5½ CNN (rec ½ goal)

Nachi Heguy scored the winning goal,  but was a tight, close game for all 4 chukkas.

Wednesday's matches on the Hotel Ground:

2.30: Desert Palm v CNN

3.45: Cartier v Emirates NBD

Dubai Polo Gold Cup 2013 Fixtures announced

Come to Family Polo Day at Ghantoot this Saturday - February 23rd! Habtoor Polo Vs Ghantoot Polo is the highlight!

Teams all set to play in Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge 2013

Desert Palm Retreat and Polo Club   February 18 - 22 February 2013

The Cartier Team

CNN Polo Team

The four pro-am teams in the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge were at Desert Palm this evening for the event’s official opening ceremony and shirt presentations. Players, patrons and sponsors mingled in the hotel’s newly opened Polo Bar, all keen to discuss the next four days of fast paced polo. Among the players was the Cartier team patron Adriano Agosti, who already has a great record in Cartier events, having won the Cartier International titles in both Dubai and China in 2012.

This year sees a new member of the Desert Palm team,  HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Although this daughter of the Ruler of Dubai was unable to attend this opening ceremony she will be in action tomorrow in Desert Palm’s first game of the 2013 season. They face the title sponsors Cartier, and as Louis Ferla, Managing Director of Cartier Middle East said in his welcome address: “May the best team win!”

Desert Palm Polo

Emirates NBD Polo Team

The Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge is held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.  Every match will be played at Ali Albwardy's beautiful Desert Palm estate, home to one of Dubai’s premier boutique retreats, Desert Palm by Per AQUUM. To ensure that the players’ and ponies’ style is as elegant as their play, La Martina has been reappointed as the Official Team Kit Supplier, while the Porsche Centre Dubai, in its role as Official Car Supplier, will see that both VIPs and players arrive on time. Pommery returns too in 2013, hosting the Pommery Champagne Reception after Friday’s finals – always the perfect way to conclude a magnificent tournament.

All images thank to Images of Polo

CARTIER INTERNATIONAL DUBAI POLO CHALLENGE TEAMS 2013

Cartier: Adriano Agosti (CH) 0; Saeed Bin Drai (UAE) 0; Mariano Uranga (ARG) 6; Juan Jose Brane (ARG) 7.

Emirates NBD: Amr Zedan (KSA) 0; Saad Audeh (JOR) 0; Ignacio Heguy (ARG) 9; Rodolfo Ducos (ARG) 4.

CNN: Faris Al Yabhouni (UAE) 0; Jonathan Munro Ford (AUS) -1; Juan Ambroggio (ARG)7; Chris Hyde (UK) 6.

Desert Palm:  HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (UAE)0;Guillermo Healy (1); Martin Valent (ARG) 5;Facundo Castagnola (ARG) 6.

The Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge ‘The One To Play In’*

Desert Palm Retreat and Polo Club   February 18 - 22 February 2013

Under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, four pro-am polo teams will compete in the 8th Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge. This prestigious and impressive polo tournament will be held from the 18 - 22 February 2013 at Ali Albwardy's Desert Palm Resort in Dubai.

The Cartier team won the trophy for the first time last year and those winning patrons, Adriano Agosti and Saeed Bin Drai, are hoping to repeat that feat this year. They will face plenty of tough competition though, including CNN team patron Jonathan Munro Ford, who is making his debut here in Dubai this year and comes to this Dubai fresh from success in the world-class Polo World Cup on Snow in St Moritz. Jonathan will co-patron the CNN team alongside Dubai resident and keen polo player Faris Al Yabhouni.

Another new patron for this year is HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. A daughter of the Ruler of Dubai, the Sheikha will be playing for the Desert Palm team. Two returning and experienced patrons, Saudi national Amr Zedan and the UK-based Saad Audeh will play under the Emirates NBD team banner This leading bank makes a welcome return to this event as team sponsor, a role they previously held in the event’s early years.   Of course, the patrons will be playing alongside an equally impressive list of professionals, made up of both English and Argentine players.

Every match will be played at Ali Albwardy's beautiful Desert Palm estate, home to one of Dubai’s premier boutique retreats, Desert Palm by Per AQUUM. To ensure that the players’ and ponies’ style is as elegant as their play, La Martina has been reappointed as the Official Team Kit Supplier, while the Porsche Centre Dubai, in its role as Official Car Supplier, will see that both VIPs and players arrive on time. Pommery returns too in 2013, hosting the Pommery Reception after Friday’s finals – always the perfect way to conclude a magnificent tournament.

CARTIER INTERNATIONAL DUBAI POLO CHALLENGE TEAMS 2013

Cartier: Adriano Agosti (CH) 0; Saeed Bin Drai (UAE) 0; Mariana Uranga (ARG) 6; Juan Jose Brane (ARG) 7.

Emirates NBD:  Amr Zedan (KSA) 0; Saad Audeh (JOR) 0; Ignacio Heguy (ARG) 9; Rodolfo Ducos (ARG) 4.

CNN: Faris Al Yabhouni (UAE) 0; Jonathan Munro Ford (AUS) -1; Juan Ambroggio (ARG) 7; Chris Hyde (UK) 6.

Desert Palm:  HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (UAE) 0; Guillermo Healy (1); Martin Valent (ARG) 5; Facundo Castagnola (ARG) 6.