The Best Ponies of the HSBC 121st Argentine Open
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
As every good polo player knows it’s not just down to their dexterity with the stick that makes the difference between scoring or missing a goal and winning the game, it is also due to agility, skill and bloodline of their ponies. This year the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Association presented winners rugs to the following ponies who were judged to be the ‘Best Argentine Polo Breeds’ in each match of the Campo Argentino de Polo at Palermo:
Match: La Dolfina vs. Miramar – Judge: Pepe Heguy
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Dolfina Buenaventura, ridden by Adolfo Cambiaso.
Nominated: Irenita Nuera, ridden by Pablo Mac Donough.
Match: La Aguada vs. Magual – Judge: Benjamín Araya
Best Argentine Polo Breed: @Digital, ridden by Miguel Novillo Astrada
Nominated: Borren La Pradera, ridden by Ignacio Toccalino
Match: Ellerstina vs. Chapaleufú
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Open Kodama, ridden by Facundo Pieres.
Match: Alegría vs. La Aguada Las Monjitas – Judge: Pepe Heguy
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Chalo Explosiva, ridden by Alejandro Novillo Astrada, loaned by Lolo Castagnola.
Nominated: Open Pugliese, ridden by Pablo Pieres and Chalo Bebota, ridden by Cristian Laprida Jr.
Match: La Aguada vs. Miramar – Judge: Pepe Heguy
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Open Chalita, ridden by Miguel Novillo Astrada.
Nominated: Gete Ovación ridden by Guillermo Caset Jr.
Match: La Dolfina vs. Magual – Judge: Francisco Bensadon
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Anay Sur La Peluda, ridden by Juan Martín Nero
Nominated: Anay Sur Pixie, ridden by Juan Martín Nero and Dolfina Tetera, ridden by Adolfo Cambiaso
Match: Alegría vs. Chapaleufú – Judge: Horacio Araya
Best Polo Argentino Bred: Open Ficha, ridden by Ignacio Heguy
Nominated: Vasca Fianza, ridden by Pepe Heguy, loan by Eduardo Heguy and Vasco Hijitus, ridden by Eduardo Heguy.
Match: Ellerstina vs. La Aguada Las Monjitas – Judge: Paco De Narvaez
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Future La Karateca, ridden by Gonzalo Pieres Jr., loaned by Nicolás Pieres.
Nominated: Gete Alegría, ridden by Ignatius Du Plessis and Open Sinfonía, ridden by Nicolás Pieres
Match: Magual vs. Miramar – Judges: Pepe Heguy and Santiago Ballester
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Borren La Pradera, ridden by Ignacio Toccalino
Nominated: Mar Chiquita Britiths, ridden by Alejandro Muzzio.
Match: La Dolfina vs. La Aguada – Judge: Benjamín Araya
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Irenita Nuera, ridden by Pablo Mac Donough.
Nominated: Anay Sur La Peluda, ridden by Juan Martín Nero.
Semi Final: La Aguada Las Monjitas vs. Chapaleufú – Judge: Fernando Fantini
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Chalo Explosiva, ridden by Alejandro Novillo Astrada, loaned by Lolo Castagnola.
Nominated: Open Ficha, ridden by Ignacio Heguy and Dolfina Viuda Negra, ridden by Cristian Laprida Jr.
Semi Final: Ellestina vs. Alegría – Judge: Pepe Heguy
Best Polo Argentino Bred: Open Z Jones, ridden by Gonzalo Pieres.
Nominated: Open Guillermina, ridden by Nicolás Pieres and Yata Ficha, ridden by Pablo Pieres, loaned by Ignacio Figueras.
Final: La Dolfina vs. Ellerstina – Judges: Benjamín Araya and Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr.
Best Argentine Polo Breed: Open Chequera, ridden by Facundo Pieres
Nominated: Anay Sur Peluda, ridden by Juan Martín Nero and Irenita Nuera, ridden by Pablo MacDonough.