12-Goal Series Final At Grand Champions

Heathcote Captures Top Pony 12-Goal Series Final At Grand Champions; Michel Dorignac Named MVP

By Arianna Delin, Sharon Robb for Grand Champions Polo Club

Heathcote led from start to finish to defeat Wildcat, 15-8, in the championship final of the Top Pony 12-Goal Series Tournament Saturday at Grand Champions Polo Club.

The team of Gene Goldstein, Lucas Arellano, Michel Dorignac and Tatin Zubiaurre jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening chukker and never relinquished the lead.

“I am really happy the team won,” Dorignac said. “To win with a team that you enjoy, have the chemistry, great teamwork and you support each other doesn’t happen very often.”

Winning Heathcote teammates Tatin Zubiaurre, Michel Dorignac, Oak Thorn, Gene Goldstein, Lucas Arellano. Photo by Alex Pacheco

Dorignac, the team’s field general, was named Most Valuable Player. Dorignac’s 12-year-old Argentine thoroughbred Medialuna was selected Best Playing Pony.

“Tatin and I watched the tape of their semifinal game and we talked about a game plan,” Dorignac said. “We said let’s go out, play our best horses the first part and try to dominate them from the very beginning and it worked.”

Heathcote’s Michel Dorignac receives his MVP Award from Juan Bollini. Photo by Alex Pacheco

Zubiaurre supplied most of Heathcote’s offensive firepower with a game-high eight goals. Dorignac had three goals. Goldstein and Arellano each had two goals.

Wildcat, making its Grand Champions debut, featured Ryan Gilbertson, Nick Johnson, Steve Krueger, Jason Crowder and Tommy Biddle. Gilbertson, Johnson and Krueger each scored two goals.

Heathcote’s Tatin Zubiaurre steals the ball in the fourth chukker. Photo by Alex Pacheco

Wildcat was dealt a severe blow in the first chukker when Crowder suffered a severe knee sprain and after trying to play with the injury was forced to leave the game.

With Wildcat trailing, 6-3, Biddle replaced Crowder in the lineup with 4:37 left in the third chukker.

“It was not a concern when Tommy came in. We knew we had to remain patient and focused,” Dorignac said. “We didn’t want to give them a chance to gain their momentum.”

Lucas Arellano of Heathcote outraces defender Steve Krueger downfield.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

Wildcat was unable to get closer than three goals in the second half. Heathcote maintained a four-goal cushion in the fifth chukker and extended its lead in the final chukker.

At 16, Arellano, the youngest player in the final, played well filling in for Oak Thorn who was sidelined earlier in the tournament with a collarbone injury.

Gene Goldstein of Heathcote makes the play despite bump from Wildcat’s Ryan Gilbertson. Photo by Alex Pacheco

“Lucas played amazing,” Dorignac said. “I think he is one of America’s up and coming players. It’s amazing how much he improved from the first game. We filled him up with confidence and every game he played better and better. He finished the final playing great.”

Arellano, the oldest son of Coca-Cola’s Julio Arellano, one of the top U.S. players, enjoyed gaining experience from his older teammates.

Heathcote MVP Michel Dorignac stretches for the ball. Photo by Alex Pacheco

“I’m really happy we won, it was a lot of fun playing with these guys,” Arellano said. “They are all super nice and they helped me out.

“It was important to jump on them early. They almost came back in the second chukker. Both Jason and Tommy are really good players.”

The Heathcote-Wildcat final can be seen on ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting. Wellington-based ChukkerTV is exclusively live streaming International Polo Club Palm Beach and Grand Champions Polo Club games during the 2016 season with polo broadcasters Toby Wayman and Dale Schwetz calling the action.

Tatin Zubiaurre of Heathcote goes for the big hit downfield. Photo by Alex Pacheco

Grand Champions Polo Club is the nation’s busiest and most innovative polo clubs. The USPA-member club hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 20-goal in addition to special events.

The club also features The Polo School, dedicated to teaching polo, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November.

Michel Dorignac’s Best Playing Pony 12-year-old Argentine thoroughbred Medialuna. Photo by Alex Pacheco

GRAND CHAMPIONS 2016 WINTER SCHEDULE

12-Goal, April, Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame Challenge Cup

8-Goal, April, USPA Association Cup

6-Goal, Madelon Bourdain Memorial, April 4, Monday, Final, Grand Champions at Valiente, 1 p.m.; April, Las Acacias

GRAND CHAMPIONS 2016 SPRING SCHEDULE

April 21-23: Grand Champions Cup

April 29-May 1: Spring Challenge

May 6-8: Sun Cup

May 13-15: USPA Eastern Challenge

May 20-22: Polo Gear Challenge Cup

May 26-29: The Memorial