La Natividad La Dolfina, champion in Palermo and winner of the Triple Crown 2025!
Again with the presence of the President of the Argentine Nation, Dr. Javier Milei and with full stands, on Sunday 7/12 on the mythical field 1 of Palermo, the grand final of the 132nd Argentine Polo Galicia Open presented by Visa was played, the world’s top interclub competition in which 10 teams of between 31 and 40 handicap goals made up of the most important players in the world participated. among them the 7 polo players who hold the 10 goals of handicap in Argentina.
The undefeated La Natividad La Dolfina achieved its 12th. victory in the season after beating Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú Vista by 17 to 13; and in this way he was not only consecrated Argentine open champion – the team also won the Galicia Cup that was in dispute – also won the AAP Triple Crown, after having won the Hurlingham, Tortugas and Palermo Opens. Impressive!
THE NUMBERS
La Natividad La Dolfina won its third title since the two teams merged. Separately, La Dolfina now has 16 trophies in Palermo; while La Natividad accumulates four (2021, 23, 24 and 25).
In Palermo, for the joint team it was their first final. But individually, for La Dolfina it was their 25th (so far they won 16 and lost 9) in 26 Palermo Opens played since the creation of the club in 2000 (they did not reach the final in 2004).
Meanwhile, the organization created by “Lolo” Castagnola played its fifth consecutive final of the Argentine Polo Open, in which it has won 4 and lost 1.
On the individual side, between the four players of La Natividad La Dolfina they accumulate 29 titles in Palermo (19 Cambiaso in 29 finals played; Jeta and Barto 4 each in 5 plays; and 2 Poroto in 4). On the other hand, on the side of Ellerstina Chapa, Facu Pieres disputed his 16th. decisive match – he continues with 5 titles; while his brother Gonza played his 14th. final in Palermo and could not win the fourth title. For their part, cousins Heguy, Antonio and Cruz played their first final of the Argentine Polo Open.
The finalist teams and progression:
La Natividad La Dolfina: Camilo Castagnola 10 (3 goals, one from a corner), Adolfo Cambiaso (n) 10 (7, two from a penalty), Adolfo Cambiaso (h) 10 (3) and Bartolomé Castagnola (h) 10 (4). Total: 40.
Ellerstina Chapaleufú Indians View: Facundo Pieres 10 (6, four penalties) (injured, replaced by Pedro Zacharias 8, at 1m. 16s. of the eighth chukker), Antonio Heguy 8 (3), Gonzalo Pieres (h) 9 (1) and Cruz Heguy 9 (3, one penalty). Total: 36.
La Natividad La Dolfina: 2-2, 3-5, 6-5, 11-5, 12-6, 13-9, 14-12 and 17-13.
Judges: Gastón Lucero and Guillermo Villanueva (h). Arbitrator: Matías Baibiene.
Photo credit: Matías Callejo / Prensa AAP.
AWARDS CEREMONY
Lady Susan Townley Cup for the best horse player of the final: Lovelocks Drogba, played by Bartolomé Castagnola (h).
Argentine Association of Polo Horse Breeders Award for the Best Registered Player Product Argentine Polo Breed and Argentine Rural Society Award: Dolfina Copas, played by “Poroto” Cambiaso.
Rubén Sola Trophy: Adolfo Cambiaso (h).
Gonzalo Heguy Trophy presented by Visa to the MVP of the final: “Poroto” Cambiaso.
Javier Novillo Astrada Award for the top scorer of the championship, presented by Hublot: Hilario Ulloa and Facundo Pieres, 35 goals each.
Copa Fomento Equino and Municipalidad de Cañuelas to the best mounted player of the final: Bartolomé Castagnola (h).
Gonzalo Tanoira Award for the best mounted polo player of the contest: Gonzalo Pieres (h).
Juan Carlos Harriott Award for Fair Play: Gonzalo Pieres (h).
Rufino Laulhé Award for the young promise: Antonio Heguy.
Plaques commemorating the referees and banderilleros.
Finally, Adolfo Cambiaso Jr., captain of the champion team and who today broke another record by being the only polo player to win 5 Triple Crowns, also received the Open Cup from President Milei, in what was the most applauded moment of the final.
The other formations that participated:
UAE Polo: Pablo Pieres 9, Lucas Monteverde (n) 9, Tomás Panelo 9 and Juan M. Nero 10. Total: 37.
La Irenita La Hache Clinova: Hilario Ulloa 9, Francisco Elizalde 9, Pablo Mac Donough 10 and Ignatius du Plessis 9. Total: 37.
The Clonargen Inlet: Rufino Bensadón 8, Juan Britos (h) 8, Guillermo Caset (h) 9 and Jerónimo del Carril 9. Total: 34.
August Sun: Facundo Sola 8, Paco de Narváez 7, Benjamín Panelo 8 and Juan M. Zubía 9. Total: 32.
Los Machitos El Refugio: Victorino Ruiz Jorba 8, Alfredo Bigatti 8, Diego Cavanagh 8 and Teodoro Lacau 8. Total. 32.
The Hatchet and Polo: Bautista Bayugar 8, Carlos M. Ulloa 8, Joaquín Pittaluga 8 and Ignacio Laprida 8. Total: 32.
The Zeta Kazak: Lorenzo Chavanne 7, Beltrán Laulhé 7, David Stirling (h) 9 and Nicolás Pieres 8. Total: 31.
La Dolfina II: Lucas Criado (h) 7, Gonzalo Ferrari 8, Mariano González (h) 8 and Isidro Strada 8. Total: 31.