Independence Cup

Flexjet Captures Independence Cup In Aspen Valley Polo Club Summer Season Opener

Arianna Delin, Sharon Robb for Aspen Valley Polo Club

Flexjet captured the season-opening Independence Cup Sunday at the Aspen Valley Polo Club Arena.

Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi/Secundo Merlos, Sebastian Merlos, Carlitos Gracida) defeated Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Lucas Lalor), 6-4, in the championship final of the round-robin.

La Karina (Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi, Julio Novillo Astrada) finished third after losing to Flexjet, 8-6, and Casablanca, 7-6.

Winning team Flexjet and other participants in season-opener Independence Cup. 

Gracida was named Most Valuable Player after scoring the only two-goal shot of the game. He finished with five goals in two games.

Argentine 9-goaler Sebastian Merlos, making his playing debut at Aspen Valley Polo Club, also had an outstanding game playing in his first career arena game. 

Brian Boyd of La Karina chases down Carlitos Gracida of Flexjet in opening game. 

Jasper, a four-year-old Dun gelding owned by Halo Polo, LLC and ridden by Sebastian Merlos, was named Best Playing Pony. The horse was also making his arena polo debut.

“This is only my second time here in Aspen, it is a beautiful place to play,” Merlos said. “We played very well together. I liked the arena.”

Juancito Bollini of Casablanca tries to get past Sebastian Merlos of Flexjet.. 

Heavy rains forced the three-team tournament to be moved from the championship grass field to the outdoor arena which made for a competitive and physical tournament.

Flexjet was dominating throughout the tournament and adjusted quickly to arena play with an adjusted lineup.

Chukker TV announcer Dale Schwetz calling play-by-play. 

In its’ 8-6 opening win over La Karina, Melissa Ganzi and Gracida each scored four goals. Flexjet jumped out to a 4-0 lead which included Gracida’s two-goal shot from center field and never relinquished its lead.

Flexjet opened the second chukker with a 4-2 lead and third chukker with a 6-3 advantage. La Karina could get no closer than two goals.

Best Playing Pony Jasper, ridden by Sebastian Merlos. 

In the final, 16-year-old Secundo Merlos replaced Melissa Ganzi in the lineup and joined his father and Gracida. In a physical game, Flexjet again took the lead, 2-1, after the first chukker. Flexjet extended its lead to 6-2 in the second chukker that ended with back-to-back goals from Segundo Merlos.

Casablanca played catch up in the third chukker, shutting out Flexjet, 2-0, but could not mount a big enough offensive rally and ran out of time.

Awards table for the season-opening Independence Cup.

Brian Boyd of La Karina, one of the club’s top patrons, finished with three goals. Boyd said he brought eleven horses for his polo-playing family during the summer season.

“My horses are fired up with this fresh air and all this alfafa feed,” Boyd said. “They are like fire-breathing dragons out there.”

Astrada  and Lalor each finished with five goals in two games for their teams.

Spectators enjoyed the spirited Kids Foot Mallet Exhibition. Photos by ChukkerTV

Before the championship final, spectators were treated to a Kids Foot Mallet Exhibition between Polo School Purple (Lucy Ramirez, Emmett Tamplin and Santos Merlos) and Polo School Green (Lorenzo Ramirez, Abel Tamplin, Solon Tamplin). The game ended with a 4-4 tie. Merlos and Abel each had three goals. All players are members of The Polo School.

Chukker TV, leaders in worldwide polo broadcasting, is live streaming the entire summer schedule including the prestigious Louis Vuitton Cup and Rocky Mountain Cup. 

ASPEN VALLEY 2016 SUMMER SCHEDULE

July 6-10, Chukker TV Challenge

July 13-17, Craig Sakin Memorial

July 20-24, Basalt Handicap

July 27-31, Emma Challenge

Aug. 3-7, Louis Vuitton Cup

Aug. 10, ChukkerTV Arena Challenge

Aug. 12-14, Mount Sopris Cup

Aug. 10-21, Rocky Mountain Open