High goal action at International Polo Club, in Wellington, continued on Sunday with two matches for the 26-goal USPA Gold Cup, currently one of the highest ranked tournaments in the world outside of Argentina. First up, Flexjet beat DRF-Bets by 10 goals to 9, followed by a Sunday game clash between Colorado and Audi, where both teams were looking for their first victory in the tournament.

Colorado started the game with a goal on handicap, and made the most of the first chukka to get ahead, thanks to two goals from Magoo Laprida. Nic Roldan scored to keep Audi in the game. The third chukka saw Marc Ganzi’s side get in gear; they were 5-2 down when Roldan scored twice and Polito Pieres scored once to make it 5-all. But Colorado came back to finish the first half with a 7-6 advantage.

The fourth chukka was well fought, and both teams scored a goal a piece. Colorado stepped it up in the fifth after Audi had tied the game once again. Both teams were evenly matched but Colorado’s attacks kept on coming, and Laprida scored two more goals to make it 10-8 in favour of Colorado by the start of the sixth and final. Just as it seemed that Rob Jornayvaz’s team would claim the win, Polito Pieres and Nic Roldan scored to tie the match 10-all. But Tomás García del Río, who played instead of the injured Juan Britos, and later named MVP of the match, came through to give Colorado the victory.

After the penalty shootout on Monday, Tonkawa became the fourth team to qualify to the semifinals of the USPA Gold Cup.

Tomás García del Río: “I was asked to play after Juan Britos suffered a fall the other day, but luckily he is OK. It is always fun playing in this team, with these players and on these horses. I rode Valiente’s horses. It was easy to fit into the team, since I have played with Magoo and Diego Cavanagh many times before. I always have fun when I play with them.”

The detail on Sunday’s matches was the following:

USPA GOLD CUP SUNDAY GAME: COLORADO 11-10 AUDI

Colorado: Rob Jornayvaz 1, Magoo Laprida 8 (4 goals), Tomás García del Río 7 (3), Diego Cavanagh 9 (3). Total: 25.
AUDI: Marc Ganzi 2, Mike Azzaro 6 (2 goals), Polito Pieres 10 (3), Nic Roldan 8 (5). Total: 26.
Score Colorado: (1-0) 3-1, 5-2, 7-6, 8-7, 10-8, 11-10.
MVP: Tomás García del Río.
BPP: Afgana. Played by Nic Roldan.

USPA GOLD CUP: FLEXJET 10-9 DRF-BETS

Flexjet: Melissa Ganzi A, Nico Pieres 8 (3 goals), Gonzalito Pieres 9 (6), Rodrigo Andrade 9 (1). Total: 26.
DRF-Bets: Agustín Obregon 6 (3 goals), Mariano Obregon 6 (1), Hilario Ulloa 10 (3), Jared Zenni 5 (2). Total: 26.
Score Flexjet: 1-1, 2-4, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 10-9.

The detail on Saturday’s matches was the following:

USPA GOLD CUP: VALIENTE 14-9 TONKAWA

Valiente: Bob Jornayvaz 2, Tommy Beresford 4 (4 goals), Facundo Pieres 10 (9), Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (1). Total: 26.
Tonkawa: Jeff Hildebrand A (1 goal), Mariano Aguerre 9 (2), Sapo Caset 10 (3), Julián de Lusarreta 7 (2). Total: 26.
Score Valiente: 2-3, 4-5, 7-5, 10-8, 11-9, 14-9.

CARLOS GRACIDA CUP: PILOT 12-8 HORSEWARE

Pilot: Curtis Pilot A (1 goal), Matt Coppola 4 (4), Gonzalito Pieres 9 (5), Lucas James 7 (1). Total: 20.
Horseware: Tom MacGuinness A (2 goals), Hugo Lloret 5 (3), Sebastián Merlos 9 (2), Joaquín Panelo 6 (1). Total: 20.
Score Pilot: 1-0, 6-1, 9-1, 11-2, 11-4, 12-8.

The order of play for the USPA Gold Cup and the Carlos Gracida Cup at International Polo Club continues as follows:
USPA GOLD CUP (26 goals)
Wednesday:
12pm, Semifinal 1: Valiente vs. Tonkawa
3pm, Semifinal 2: Flexjet vs. Daily Racing Form
CARLOS GRACIDA CUP (20 goals)
Tuesday:
1pm, Semifinal I: La Indiana vs. Pilot
4pm, Semifinal II: Coca Cola vs. Prestige Worldwide
Day TBC:
Subsidiary: Goose Creek vs. Horseware