Mon 22nd Jul 2019 Dubai Reign in Overtime Victory The King Power Gold Cup Final In what is being called ‘the Final of the 21st Century’, yesterday, Sunday 21 July, Dubai defeated VS King Power in the Final of The King Power Gold Cup Final at Cowdray Park Polo Club, 13-12 in overtime.  Thousands of polo fans gathered under the July sun for the illustrious British Open which saw two of the youngest players in history reach the Final, 18-year-old Bartolito Castagnola and his 16-year-old brother Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola. Going into the Final the teams were evenly matched, with Dubai holding the upper hand in the win/loss ratio, with five wins and only one loss.  The match was as fast and exciting as everyone expected. Dubai were first on the ball, but it was quickly stolen by VS King Power 9 goaler Polito Pieres. With three missed goal opportunities, including a first missed penalty for Bartolito Castagnola, ‘Jeta’ was the first to put his name on the scoreboard early in the first chukka. VS King Power were quick to respond, with Marcos di Paola securing his first goal of the match, and the game continued in this fashion for the next six chukkas. Prior to the half-time break, Dubai found themselves 6-4 ahead thanks to two epic goals from Bartolito Castagnola, but following what must have been a punchy team chat during the break, VS King Power came back with a vengeance, racing to change the lead to an 8-6 in VS King Power’s favour. With two more chukkas to go, Dubai had their work cut out and VS King Power weren’t going to make it easy. As the fifth chukka wound down, VS King Power were now in the lead 11-7 and it looked like it might be all over for Dubai. But as the sixth chukka commenced, the notorious Castagnola teamwork clicked into play, as the brothers, with the more than able support of back Nachi du Plessis at number four climbed the scoreboard to make it an even 11-11, then 12-12. The crowd were ecstatic as the bell at the end of the sixth sounded, forcing the teams into a seventh, thrilling chukka.  As hushed tones of “Who can hold their nerve?” resounded around the grandstand, the teams raced out for the overtime period. VS King Power, with measured play, took the first stab at goal, but to the dismay of their fans in the stands, following a solo run upfield with no one on his tail, Juan Martín Zubía hit the ball wide, dashing VS King Power’s chances of victory. ‘Jeta’ Castagnola took the bull by the horns and to a huge cheer from stands, he raced upfield to tap the ball through the uprights and take home The King Power Gold Cup for the Dubai side.  Polito Pieres was named Most Valuable Player, a small consolation on his birthday following the loss of the Final, whilst Top Srivaddhanaprabha’s pony Open Chacota was awarded the Best Playing Patron’s pony honours. ‘Jeta’ Castagnola’s grey mare Rebalde was named Best Playing Pony of the Final. A full report will follow in the next issue of Polo Times, so make sure your subscription is up to date here now. The King Power Gold Cup Final Teams: Dubai (21): Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola (6), Rashid Albwardy (1), Bartolito Castagnola (6) & Nachi du Plessis (8) King Power (22): Top Srivaddhanaprabha (0), Polito Pieres (9), Marcos Di Paola (7) & Juan Martín Zubía (6)   Photograph: Dubai secured their first Gold Cup win since 2015. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com

Other top stories Fri 26th Apr 2024 Tomas Panelo Raised to 10 Goals in USA USPA 2024 Outdoor Handicap Raises Tue 23rd Apr 2024 Second 2024 WPL Win for Park Place The WPL Triple Crown of Polo Mon 22nd Apr 2024 La Dolfina Win US Open Polo Championship 10-7 win against Valiente in Final Fri 19th Apr 2024 La Dolfina & Valiente Reach US Open Final Cambiasos will do battle once again Wed 17th Apr 2024 Polo Times April Issue Out Now This issue packed with insights, reports & features Mon 15th Apr 2024 US Open Polo Championship Semi Finalists Last spot being decided today Thu 11th Apr 2024 Synergy Clothing Lift Thai Autumn Cup Narrow 8-7 win in Final Wed 10th Apr 2024 Free Pony Changes During Extreme Heat UK Rule Change Tue 9th Apr 2024 2024 English High Goal Teams 22 teams will take part in this season Mon 8th Apr 2024 US Open Polo Championship Update Today’s action between Dutta Corp vs Valiente Wed 3rd Apr 2024 Milly Hine & Mia Cambiaso Reach 9 Goals in US U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship winner & finalist recognised Tue 2nd Apr 2024 WPL Palm Beach Open Finalists Travieso vs Casablanca on Sunday 7 April Mon 1st Apr 2024 US Open Polo Championship Sunday Results Wins for La Dolfina & Dutta Corp See all news in: April 2024March 2024February 2024January 2024December 2023November 2023October 2023September 2023August 2023July 2023June 2023May 2023April 2023March 2023February 2023January 2023December 2022November 2022October 2022September 2022August 2022July 2022June 2022May 2022April 2022March 2022February 2022January 2022December 2021November 2021October 2021September 2021August 2021July 2021June 2021May 2021April 2021March 2021February 2021January 2021December 2020November 2020October 2020September 2020August 2020July 2020June 2020May 2020April 2020March 2020February 2020January 2020December 2019November 2019October 2019September 2019August 2019July 2019June 2019May 2019April 2019March 2019February 2019January 2019December 2018November 2018October 2018September 2018August 2018July 2018June 2018May 2018April 2018March 2018February 2018January 2018December 2017November 2017October 2017September 2017August 2017July 2017June 2017May 2017April 2017March 2017February 2017January 2017December 2016November 2016October 2016September 2016August 2016July 2016June 2016May 2016April 2016March 2016February 2016January 2016December 2015November 2015October 2015September 2015August 2015July 2015June 2015May 2015April 2015March 2015February 2015January 2015December 2014November 2014October 2014September 2014August 2014July 2014June 2014May 2014April 2014March 2014February 2014January 2014December 2013November 2013October 2013September 2013August 2013July 2013June 2013May 2013April 2013March 2013February 2013January 2013December 2012November 2012October 2012September 2012August 2012July 2012June 2012May 2012April 2012March 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011January 2011December 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010January 2010December 2009November 2009October 2009September 2009August 2009July 2009June 2009May 2009April 2009March 2009February 2009January 2009December 2008November 2008October 2008September 2008August 2008July 2008June 2008May 2008April 2008March 2008

End of Polo Times news page