Colorado Avoids Upset, Remains Unbeaten To Advance Into Semifinals; Tripleheader Set For Sunday

April 10
Uploaded by Grand Champions Polo Club
Published in Polo Club News
Hits: 17961
Print,

WELLINGTON, Fl., April 7, 2019----Colorado had a close call against upset-minded Alegria in its final bracket game of the Triple Crown of Polo Saturday at Valiente Polo Farm.

By Sharon Robb

Visit our Website

Headed into the final chukker tied at 6-6, Colorado (Rob Jornayvaz, 2, Juan Martin Zubia, 7, Adolfo Cambiaso, 10, Jero del Carril, 7) reeled off four unanswered goals by Zubia and Del Carril to defeat Alegria (Freddie Mannix, 8, Juan Martin Obregon, 5, Gringo Colombres, 7, Jesse Bray, 6), 10-6, to become the first team to advance into Thursday's semifinals with a 3-0 record.

Juan Martin Obregon of Alegria hooks Juan Martin Zubia of Colorado.

"We just ran out of one last bullet in the last chukker," Mannix said. "I felt we were close. I thought we could have done it if we could just catch a good break at the right time. We didn't quite have enough bullets left. What a shame, we were so close."

Colorado's Jero del Carril tries to work the ball with Gringo Colombres on his hip.

On Sunday, the third round of the Triple Crown of Polo will decide Wednesday's subsidiary teams and Thursday's semifinal teams, with three highly-anticipated games on tap.

Gringo Colombres of Alegria drives downfield with Juan Martin Zubia of Colorado defending.

Audi plays WPL in the feature game at 4 p.m. at Grand Champions Polo Club's Field 2. In the two early games, Grand Champions plays Mandarina at 10 a.m. at Jan Pamela Field 3 and Valiente plays Black Watch at Valiente Polo Farm Field 2 at 1 p.m.

In a fast, wide open game, Colorado jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the low scoring first half. Alegria rallied late in the fourth chukker tying the game at 6-6 on Obregon's penalty three conversion.

Freddie Mannix of Alegria and Adolfo Cambiaso of Colorado watch a play develop.

Alegria had its share of scoring opportunities in the final chukker but fell short while Cambiaso took command of the game with his leadership and long passes to Zubia and Del Carril.

"We played bad today," Cambiaso said. "We won but we didn't play the way we like. We were a bit too long. We need to get more compact. I think we did it when we were scared in the last chukker. I think we played well in the last chukker only.

Gringo Colombres of Alegria stride-for-stride with Jero del Carril of Colorado.

"We let them play us tight," Cambiaso said. "We played badly and they played well. I'm happy to win but we can play much better. We need to improve if we want to win the tournament. The way we played today we don't win the tournament."

Freddie Mannix of Alegria watches his shot downfield.

Del Carril led Colorado with four goals. Zubia had three, Jornayvaz added two and Cambiaso had one. For Alegria, Mannix, Bray and Obregon each had two goals.

Juan Martin Obregon of Alegria playing tight on Juan Martin Zubia of Colorado.

"We tried hard, we gave it everything," Mannix said. "We really played well as a team. You have to play obviously well to beat that team. They are really good. They have the best player, they are super mounted, they have all the good horses and they know exactly what to do.

"We did play well, I am proud of these guys," Mannix said. "Juan Martin is playing well in the back. Jesse is playing well. Gringo is distributing the ball well. I think it shows that we can be competitive if we put it together for six chukkers. It's a shame about the last chukker. They were just too good for us in the last moments."

Juan Martin Zubia of Colorado goes to goal for one of his three goals.

The WPL is being live streamed on ESPN Deportes and ChukkerTV/Polo Channel/Horseplay with Gus Whitelaw calling the action. For more information go to www.worldpolo.org.

Co-founded by Grand Champions owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi and Valiente Polo Farm owner Bob Jornayvaz, the World Polo League is the only 26-goal polo in the world outside of Argentina. The WPL is preserving the highest level of polo and its rich, hallowed tradition in the U.S.

Gringo Colombres of Alegria reaches out of the saddle for the ball with Adolfo Cambiaso of Colorado defending.

The WPL has its own set of simpler fan-friendly rules to improve the flow and action of the game.

The WPL, with 11 tournament-quality fields to play on, features the All-Star Challenge Draw Tournament, Founders Cup, Palm Beach Open and Triple Crown of Polo. The WPL is open to teams that wish to compete in one or more of the tournaments. Games are offered on the flat (Open) and on Handicap.

Jero del Carril of Colorado hooks Jesse Bray of Alegria.

The World Polo League has attracted a large international field of players from all corners of the world including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Nigeria, New Zealand, Uruguay and U.S.

Juan Martin Obregon of Alegria goes for the big neck shot with Jero del Carril of Colorado defending.

Photos by Ramon Casares

Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in five self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and three polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation including one field for stick-and-ball with plans to build more polo fields in the future.

2019 WORLD POLO LEAGUE SCHEDULE

APRIL

March 27-April 14, Triple Crown of Polo

Sunday, 4/7:

10 a.m. Grand Champions vs Mandarina at Jan Pamela Field 3
1 p.m. Valiente vs Black Watch at Valiente Field 2

4 p.m. Audi vs WPL at GCPC Field 2

Wednesday, 4/10:
11 a.m. Subsidiary Semifinal
4 p.m. Subsidiary Semifinal

Thursday, 4/11:
11 a.m. Triple Crown of Polo Semifinal
4 p.m. Triple Crown of Polo Semifinal

Saturday, 4/13:
Subsidiary Final

Sunday, 4/14:
4 p.m. Triple Crown of Polo Championship Final, GCPC Field 2

WPL Hotline: 833-POLO-411

Games at Grand Champions Polo Club, Valiente Polo Farm and other local fields, call our hotline to receive daily game and field information.

Chukker TV is live streaming the entire World Polo League season with film material content provided by Polo Channel. ChukkerTV, featuring cutting-edge technology, was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club. For advertising opportunities please contact Mike Ferreira at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Rob Jornayvaz at Polo Channel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For Daily Game information call our hotline at 1-833-POLO-411

Watch Games Live

Jan-Eric Franck

"The Voice of Polo"

ESPN West Palm (106.3FM) and ESPN Deportes (760AM) signed an exclusive contract with the World Polo League and will target the West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami markets with various broadcasts, commercials and exposure on radio, ESPN.com, ESPN app and social media platforms to promote the exciting new 26-goal league. With nearly two decades of sustained success in sports and entertainment broadcasting, Josh Cohen is among the most influential, respected and popular on-air personalities and live event hosts in South Florida. Julian Zaldivar has been a part of ESPN West Palm team and ESPN Deportes760AM manager since its inception. He is the host of Comunidad ESPN Monday through Friday that features all-sports talk and interviews with the Latino community leaders from the local Hispanic market.


Josh Cohen


	Julian Zaldivar

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.

DIRECTOR OF POLO: Juan Olivera, 561-644-5050, juan.olivera@gcpolo.com; hotline 561-644-5050.

INFORMATION: For spectators, there are great field side views for tournament action and also the Grand Champions Polo Club Boutique. The club is home base for pro teams Audi and Flexjet. Everyone is welcome to watch every level of polo in a relaxed atmosphere with food and refreshments during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events. Admission is free except for some special events.

Grand Champions Polo Club, 13444 Southfields Road, Wellington, FL 33414

SafeUnsubscribe™ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider

Sent by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in collaboration with

Try it free today