Bin Drai Polo defeated Ankora by 9 goals to 6 to win the Polo Masters Cup at Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, February 12. The tournament saw seven teams, up to 8 goals, compete.
Following an even first chukka, Raúl Laplacette scored several goals to give Bin Drai a commanding 6-3 lead by the end of the second. Ricardo Garros scored twice for Ankora, but Bin Drai maintained their two goal advantage. In the fourth and last chukka, it was Mohammed Bin Drai who extended Bin Drai’s advantage, and Faisal Yabroudi scored in the last seconds to secure Bin Drai’s victory and the title.
The Subsidiary went to Estancia Lamar, which saw legendary Argentine player Ernesto Trotz in the line-up. Although Estancia Lamar took control of the match, Tommy Bersford closed the gap in the last chukka. However, luck was on Estancia Lamar’s side, and they secured the 6-5 victory.
POLO MASTERS CUP – FINALS – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12
BIN DRAI 9- 6 ANKORA
BIN DRAI: Faisal Yabroudi (0), Rashid bin Drai (1), Khalid bin Drai (1), Raul Laplacette (6)
ANKORA: Mohammed Khalid (-1), Khalid Alomran (0), Ricardo Garros (5), Pablo Urquiza (4)
Score Bin Drai: 2-1, 6-3, 7-5, 9-6.
MVP: Ricardo Garrós.
BPP: Pico Flor, ridden by Ricardo Garrós.
SUBSIDIARY FINAL
ESTANCIA LAMAR 6-5 EL BASHA POLO
ESTANCIA LAMAR: Rayyan Al Ajaji (-1), Kian Hall (3), Maxi Malacalza (3), Ernesto Trotz (3)
EL BASHA POLO: Hani Jabshe (-1), Sam Browne (0), Justo Cuitinho (3), Tommy Beresford (6)
Score Estancia Lamar: 2-0, 5-2, 6-3, 6-5.
THE POLO MASTERS CUP WAS STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV.
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POLO MASTERS CUP – TEAMS:
ANKORA: Mohammed Khalid (-1), Khalid Alomran (0), Ricardo Garros (5), Pablo Urquiza (4)
BIN DRAI: Faisal Yabroudi (0), Rashid bin Drai (1), Khalid bin Drai (1), Raul Laplacette (6)
EL BASHA POLO: Hani Jabshe (-1), Sam Browne (0), Justo Cuitinho (3), Tommy Beresford (6)
ESTANCIA LAMAR: Rayyan Al Ajaji (-1), Kian Hall (3), Maxi Malacalza (3), Ernesto Trotz (3)
HESKETH POLO: Lauren Dickson (-), Santos Iriarte (2), Tomas Palacios Bacque (3), Tomy Iriarte (4)
MAHRA POLO: Khalaf Al Habtoor (0), Tariq Al Habtoor (1), Matias Gonzales (4), Juanji Diaz Alberdi (3)
UAE POLO: HH Sheikha Maitha (0), Sheikha Alia (0), Juan Cruz Gallego (3), Lucas Monteverde Jr. (5)