DUBAI IS THE GRAND CHAMPION OF THE AYALA POLO CLUB 22 GOAL GOLD CUP
SAN ROQUE, Saturday, August 29, 2026 – Dubai won this Saturday and for the fifth time in its history the Ayala Polo Club Gold Cup, after beating Sainte Mesme 16-9 in the final played on field 3 of Los Pinos. Thus, the team founded by Ali Albwardi is crowned again after 3 years, since its last conquest had been in 2023, also with Bartolomé Castagnola in its ranks. For its part, Vamos Korea was crowned in the Low Handicap thanks to having beaten Santa Quiteria by 12 to 8.
The final of the High Handicap had a dominator in Dubai practically from chukker number 2. In the first, Dubai had also started very well, but Sainte Mesme had managed to shorten the distance to only 1, 4-3. From the second set, however, Dubai grew in intensity, play, level and brilliance. The prominence of Pedro Chavanne was remarkable, despite his 16 years of age. A consecrating performance, definitely. Gonzalo Ferrari, then elected best player of the final, again had a very high performance, and was once again key in every aspect of his team’s game. And Bartolomé Castagnola, who returned to play with the Dubai jersey after 3 seasons, showed once again why he is considered one of the two best players in the world.
Although Dubai’s victory became more evident from the start of the second half, Sainte Mesme fought until the last moment, in what was his first historic participation in this final. In any case, it will be an August that he will hardly forget, with several high points and having defeated the toughest teams in the competition. On the winners’ side, Barto Castagnola won the Ayala Polo Club High Handicap Gold Cup for the third time, while for his teammates it is his first crown. In addition, together with Gonzalo Entrecanales he had lost the final in 2024, so today they took revenge together for that defeat.
After the finals, it was the turn of the awards ceremony, which was attended by, in addition to the protagonists, Paola Zóbel, President of Ayala Polo Club, who presented the Cup to the champions; Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, Mayor of San Roque; Harry Dent, Partner at ATL; Antonio Alés, Director of Ayala; Alessia Lana, Representative of U.S. Polo Assn. and Marketing & Communications Manager of Incom; Fernando Sirimarco, CEO of Backhander; David Bizcocho, Director of Operations and Development of the Tournament; María Cruz Conde, of Covetsol; and Michael Taylor, Sports Director of the tournament.
Throughout the day, and naturally also once the awards ceremony was over, the public enjoyed the varied and attractive proposal of Last Chukker, with the Croft Twist drinks bar, food trucks, the shops inside the central pavilion, the Art Gallery by Lola and the Market that accompanies the tournament on Fridays and Saturdays. The musical finale was provided by Paradise, Coldplay Tribute Band, who concluded the Ayala Polo Club Gold Cup to pure rhythm.
Admission to all the days of the 55th ATL International Polo Tournament, both at Ayala Polo Club and at Ayala Sede Los Pinos, and to the entire season of Ayala Polo Club, is free of charge.
The detail of the day of Saturday, August 29 of the Ayala Polo Club Gold Cup was as follows:
AYALA POLO CLUB GOLD CUP FINAL WITH HIGH HANDICAP: DUBAI 16-9 SAINTE MESME
DUBAI*: Gonzalo Entrecanales 1 (1 goal), Pedro Chavanne 4 (4), Gonzalo Ferrari 7 (4), Bartolomé Castagnola (h) 10 (6). Total: 22.
*1 goal for Penalty 1.
SAINTE MESME: Kristos Magrini 6 (2 goles), Ned Hine 5 (1), Carlos María Ulloa 7 (5), Robert Strom 4 (1). Total: 22.
Judges: Martín Aguerre & Gastón Lucero. Referee: Federico Martelli.
Dubai Progression: 4-3, 7-4, 9-6, 11-6, 13-7, 16-9.
Man of the Match Award: Gonzalo Ferrari.
Award for the Best Horse of the Final: Ve Ocho Monet. Player: Pedro Chavanne.
Best Player Product Registered Argentine Polo Race: Dubai Mamma Mia. Player: Gonzalo Ferrari.
AYALA POLO CLUB GOLD CUP FINAL WITH LOW HANDICAP: VAMOS KOREA 12-8 SANTA QUITERIA
LET’S GO KOREA: David Ko 0, Indalecio Pieres 1, Vicente Stirling 1, Nicolás Pieres 8. Total: 10.
SANTA QUITERIA: Alfonso Nero 1, Gonzalo Entrecanales 2, Luis Domecq 2, Juan Cruz Carreño 3. Total: 8.
Judges: Esteban Ferrari & Santos Anca. Referee: Mariano Iturrioz.
Korea (0-2): 1-3, 2-6, 5-7, 10-7, 12-8.
Man of the Match Award: Indalecio Pieres.
Award for the Best Horse of the Final: Willmont New Zealand. Player: Indalecio Pieres.
CHAMPIONS 55TH INTERNATIONAL POLO TOURNAMENT ATL
BRONZE CUP GLUF BY BIONESTA
High Handicap: Ayala
Mediano Hándicap: John Smith
Low Handicap: Vamos Korea
TERRALPA SILVER CUP
High Handicap: Amanara
Medium Handicap: P1 Cars El Bambú
Low Handicap: Estancia Lamar
AYALA POLO CLUB GOLD CUP
Alto Hándicap: Dubai
Medium Handicap: P1 Cars El Bambú
Low Handicap: Vamos Korea
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