Following Dubai’s qualification to the Queen’s Cup’s next stage, the quarter finals, King Power and Twelve Oaks were victorious on Saturday May 28, after defeating reigning champions, UAE, and Marqués de Riscal, respectively. Guards Polo Club’s most prestigious tournament sees fifteen teams, up to 22 goals, compete for the title.
The day kicked off with King Power vs. UAE. King Power, who had Pablo MacDonough filling in for Nicolás Pieres, dominated the scoreboard until the fourth chukka; then, UAE took off in the fifth chukka and closed the gap to just one goal. But Sheikha Maitha’s and her boys’ hopes were torn into pieces in the last chukka, when Top Srivaddhanaprabha’s foursome produced two goals to earn a 11-8 win. In the follow up, Twelve Oaks, newcomers in British high goal and already with a title under their belts, the Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy, defated Marqués de Riscal by a narrow 10-9. Twelve Oaks were leading by 10-7 at the start of the last chukka, but the Spaniard team battled back to outscore Charlie Wooldrige and company 3-1. However, the efforts didn’t pay off, and it was Twelve Oaks who got back home with the win.
QUEEN’S CUP – SATURDAY MAY 28
KING POWER 11-8 UAE
King Power: Top Srivaddhanaprabha 0 (2 goals), Pablo MacDonough 9* (3), Mackenzie Weisz 5 (4), James Harper 7 (2). Total: 22.
*Subbed in for Nicolás Pieres 9.
UAE: HH Sheikha Maitha 0 (2 goals), Bartolomé Castagnola 9 (1), Juan Ambroggio 6 (2)*, Tomás Beresford 7 (3). Total: 22.
*Subbed in for Lucas Monteverde Jr. 5.
Score King Power: 3-1, 6-3, 8-6, 8-6, 9-8, 11-8.
Umpires: Peter Wright & Howard Smith.
Third man: Julian Appleby.
BPP UK: Eop Dimple (Clarion x Wrinkle), owned by Roz Packer, bred by Ellerston and ridden by James Harper.
TWELVE OAKS 10-9 MARQUÉS DE RISCAL
Twelve Oaks: Charlie Wooldridge 1 (2 goals), Joaquin Pittaluga 7 (4), Magoo Laprida 8 (1), John-Paul Clarkin 6 (4). Total: 22.
Marqués de Riscal: Alejandro Aznar 0, Facundo Llosa 7 , Santiago Laborde 6 (3 goals), Guillermo Caset 9 (7). Total: 22.
Score Twelve Oaks: 2-1, 5-4, 8-5, 10-5, 10-7, 10-9.
Umpires: Jason Dixon & Tim Bown.
Third man: Peter Wright.
BPP UK: Sophie (Sakhee’s Secret x Honourable), bred by NZ Throroughbred, owned and ridden by John-Paul Clarkin.
Action for the Queen’s Cup will resume on Sunday May 29, with the following order of play:
12pm: Murus Sanctus vs. Great Oaks Les Lions (Les Lions)
3,00m, The Richard Watt Cup: Scone vs. Park Place (The Queen’s Ground)
The Queen’s Cup final is set to be played on Sunday, June 12.
The Queen’s Cup – Teams & Fixture
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