Nexus Valentine’s Polo Cup Wows Record Crowds

Strong Turnout for 5th Edition of Increasingly Popular Tournament

UAE polo fans were out in force for the 5thedition of the increasingly popular Nexus Valentine’s Polo Cup.

A record crowd witnessed a keenly contested conclusion to the tournament. Polo Addict were the eventual winners, beating Dr A 4 – 2 ½ in the final. Hell’s Angels took third place ahead of Pink Panthers.

Sponsored by Nexus Insurance Brokers, one of the region’s largest independent brokers, the Nexus Valentine’s Polo Cup is a celebration of international-class horsemanship.

“Nexus Insurance Brokers is proud to again sponsor this fantastic tournament,” said Tarun Khanna, CEO, Nexus Insurance Brokers.

“The sport on display was outstanding and the atmosphere was immense. Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thanks to everyone who turned up on the day.”

@Dubaigoldcup Mahra Polo and Habtoor Polo will play the Hildon Subsidiary Final

Habtoor Polo, patron Mohammed Al Habtoor´s team, and Mahra Polo's patron Rashid Al Habtoor´s team
will play the Hildon Subsidiary Final of the McLaren Silver Cup after winning today´s matches.

Al Habtoor´s brothers will be face to face on Saturday´s Hildon Subsidiary Final after defeating Zedan and
UAE in the semifinals. Mahra defeated Zedan 10 goals to 9 in overtime in one of the most exciting matches of the McLaren Silver Cup and Habtoor did the same with UAE by 10 to 5.5.

The first semifinal between Mahra and Zedan, held on Desert Palm Club, was a great match. In a non-stop game both teams played great and the actions were so tight that the match went to extra time. Nacho González, Mahra´s back, was the responsible to break the even score and qualify Rashid Al Habtoor´s
team to the Hildon Subsidiary final.

The second match of the day had a great performance by Mohammed Al Habtoor, Habtoor Polo´s team
patron who scored 3 goals in the victory against the UAE Polo team to win by 10 goals to 5.5.
Habtoor Polo played against an “emergency” team of UAE, who´s star, Lucas Monteverde, is injured and
unfortunately will miss the rest of the polo season

@dubaigoldcup McLaren Cup 2014 Final Day - COME ALONG

@Dubaigoldcup Pelón Stirling leads Zedan Polo to a great victory

A great performance of ten goaler polo player, David “Pelón” Stirling lead Zedan Polo to a very important victory against Mahra in today´s match of the McLaren Silver Cup, Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2014.
Patron Amr Zedan´s team victory was decided in overtime by 7 goals to 6 thanks to a great action of the Uruguayan top player who scored six of the seven goals in this team. The first half had Zedan Polo leading the score and the actions of the game. First chukka ended with a 2-1 for Amr Zedan´s team and in the second period they increased the gap with another goal.

The second part of the game brought a great reaction by the Mahra boys. Patron Rashid Al Habtoor´s team made a great comeback in the third chukker scoring three consecutive goals and taking the lead in the game for the first time (4-3).
Despite this period ended with a 4 goal a pice, Mahra hold up the actions in the fourth chukka and where very close to win the game.
A magnificent corner shot by Stirling in the last second of the last period, left the match tied in 6 goals and took it to overtime. In the extra time, once again the ten goaler took control of the ball and run straight to the goal posts to score
the goal that gave Zedan the victory by 7 goals to 6.

The McLaren Silver Cup will continue tomorrow with a double action date at Desert Palm. Desert Palm 2 will play against UAE from 2.30 pm and in the second match of the day, Abu Dhabi will face Desert Palm 1 from 4 pm.

@Dubaigoldcup Bin Drai wins and steps forward to the quarterfinals; Great performance by Habtoor Polo in the victory against UAE

Habtoor Polo and Bin Drai came out winners in the two matches played today for the McLaren Silver Cup part of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2014.
In the first match of the day, Habtoor Polo, with a great performance in the second half of the game, defeated UAE by 6 goals to 2.

This victory put´s Mohammed Al Habtoor team again in the fight to reach the quarterfinals of the McLaren Silver Cup. During the first two chukkas, Habtoor controlled the game but UAE scored the goals and that was the main reason of the 1-0/2-1 lead of HH Sheika Maitha´s team in the first half.


The second half was completely different. Habtoor started to capitalize all the onfall actions and with two goals in a row took the lead of the match.
They ended winning the third chukka by 3 goals to 2 and in the fourth and last period, Mohammed Al Habtoor Team increased the gap to the final 6-2 victory.
The second match of the day brought a tough battle between Bin Drai and Desert Palm 1. The victory was for Bin Drai by 7 goals to 6 in overtime.
After four chukkas of full speed action and great goals, Bin Drai achieved a victory that put´s them in the Silver Cup quarterfinals.

Raúl Laplacette, with four goals, was the top scorer of the game and the main reason for Bin Drai´s victory. Saeed Bin Drai team ended the third chukka two goals above and with a great comeback in the fourth period managed to tied the game and go to overtime.


A goal scored by Laplacette gave Bin Drai the victory by 7 goals to 6.

The McLaren Silver Cup will continue tomorrow from 2.30 pm at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club with the match between Mahra Polo and Zedan Polo.

@DubaiGoldCup Great action in Ghantoot ADCB´s @GhantootPolo victory against Zedan

Ghantoot ADCB Polo Team defeated Zedan Polo by 10 goals to 8 in the only game played today for the
McLaren Silver Cup, Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2014.
The Team made by Abdullah bin Dismal, Juan Zubiaurre, Facundo Sola and Pelayo Berazadi had to work hard against patron´s Amr Zedan's polo team.

Facundo Sola by Gonzalo Etcheverry/DPGC 2014

Ghantoot, with Facundo Sola scoring seven consecutive goals, played two excellent initial chukkas.
With a two goal difference in the first chukka and three in the second, Ghantoot controlled the game during
the half time. But the ten goaler David “Pelón” Stirling started to demonstrate all his talent and put Zedan back in the game in the second period.
The third chukka ended with a Ghantoot close gap leading (7-6) and in the last period Zedan managed to putthe scoreboard in 8 goals a piece with only one minute to go.
After several seconds of suspense, two consecutive goals by Facundo Sola, top scorer and MVP of the
match, led Ghantoot to a dramatic victory by 10 goals to 8.

The McLaren Silver Cup will continue next Tuesday, February 4th, with two matches. Habtoor Polo will play against UAE Polo, HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum team. This game will be held from 2.30 at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. From 4 pm, also in the Dubai Polo Club, Bin Drai will face Desert Palm 1.

Triumphant debut for Bin Drai and Desert Palm 2 @DubaiGoldCup

Triumphant debut for Bin Drai and Desert Palm 2

Bin Drai and Desert Palm 2 started The McLaren Silver Cup, Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2014, with two thrilling victories against Abu Dhabi and Habtoor Polo. Two great games could be seen this afternoon at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club with close victories decided in the last seconds. Bin Drai defeated Abu Dhabi 10 goals to 9 and Desert Palm 2 did the same against Habtoor by 6 to 5.

Bin Drai Polo Team and Abu Dhabi had the honour to open the McLaren Silver Cup.
Patron Faris Al Yabhouni, Abu Dhabi´s team, took a quick lead in the scoreboard with four consecutive goals in the first chukka.


Although the match had a close gap between both teams, Abu Dhabi controlled the game from the second period till the last two minutes of the match. A great comeback from Bin Drai in the last minute gave them a thrilling victory by 10 goals to 9.

Raúl Laplacette, with 6 goals, was the top scorer in the winning team while Alfredo Capella scored the same amount of goals for Abu Dhabi.
Not less exciting was the second match of the day between the defending Silver Cup champion, Habtoor Polo Team and Desert Palm 2.

Desert Palm 2 made a great start with Jejo Taranco and Santiago Laborde leading the team to a 2 goal lead in the first chukka. Habtoor Polo reaction was immediate and two goals from Fran Elizalde tied the game at the end of the first half.

The Patron Mohammed Al Habtoor and his team had a good third chukka to take the lead by one goal (3-2) and made Desert Palm to do a great effort to stay close in the game.
The effort had it´s reward for Desert Palm that achieved a dramatic victory in the last seconds of the game by 6 goals to 5. Desert Palm 2, uruguayan polo player, Alejo Taranco, was the top scorer of the game with 5 goals and Fran
Elizalde was the top scorer in Habtoor Polo team with 4.

The McLaren Silver Cup will continue tomorrow with the match between Zedan and Ghantoot Polo. This game will be held at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club from 4 pm.