Casablanca Marches off with Polo Training Foundation Challenge

From a Published Press Release

Casablanca scored the winning goal in the final two minutes to defeat Grand Champions, 3-2, to capture the Polo Training Foundation March Challenge on Monday at Everglades Polo Club.

Three teams of highly-skilled junior polo players competed in the two-hour event.

The teams were GJ Racing (Blake Ashcroft, Justin Daniels, Wes Finlayson, John Hand), Grand Champions (Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi, Liam Lott, Guillerhme Maia) and Casablanca (Agustin Arellano, Matias Gonzalez, Ian MacTaggart, Jack McLean).

Matias Gonzalez of Casablanca attempts the hook on Wes Finlayson of GJ Racing. Photo by Alex Pacheco

Trailing 2-0 going after two Bollini goals, into the final chukker, Gonzalez opened the chukker with a 50-yard goal. A minute later, McLean scored to tie the game at 2-2.

After Bollini defended Gonzalez’ scoring attempt, MacTaggart came back to score the game-winner with two minutes left in regulation.

Casablanca and Grand Champions players have competed with and against each other in past tournaments.

“Our team had great chemistry on the field,” Arellano said. “It meshed really well together. We never all played together on the same team before but we all played really well together.

Matias Gonzales, Agustin Arellano, Gil Johnston, Jack McLean and Ian Mac Taggart. Photo by Alex Pacheco

“Matias is a great back and crushes the ball. Jack and Ian were great with the ball pulling the team forward. I tried to help in the middle.

“We all knew everyone else who was playing and we all watch each other so we know each others strengths and weaknesses,” Arellano said.

Grand Champions’ Juancito Bollini, a sophomore at Florida Atlantic University, was named Most Valuable Player.

Arellano’s 8-year-old gray thoroughbred mare Milkshake was awarded Best Playing Pony.

Best Playing Pony Milkshake with Agutsin Arellano and
Gil Johnston. Photo by Gil Johnston

“My dad had bought her as a 4-year-old and didn’t get along with her at all,” Arellano said of his father, Julio, a top American player and member of Coca-Cola’s pro team. “He let me play her a little bit and I loved her. I ended up buying her from him. She’s turned out to be my best horse.”

Arellano enjoyed playing with and against his friends.

“It’s so much fun to play against other players your age and to challenge yourself at this level,” Arellano said. “This is so fast, everyone is just running and having fun. It’s great.

“The PTF is awesome, this is what has brought me to the level I am today,” Arellano said. “It’s just amazing. They do such a good job getting all the kids out here to play.”

McLean, 14, an out-of-state player, enjoys playing against the best junior players to hone his polo skills. McLean competed in both the PTF March Challenge and Buzz Welker Memorial.