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.