Dubai delight as polo's Gold Cup sees top-class start

If Sunday's thrilling opening match between Dubai and Talandrancas, which launched the 2013 Veuve Clicqot Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, was anything to go by, audiences will be left breathless throughout the entire four-week tournament.
Salkeld (green) v Twelve Oaks (white) in a Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Polo match on Lawns 2 at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Sunday 23 June 2013Salkeld (green) v Twelve Oaks (white) in a Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Polo match on Lawns 2 at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Sunday 23 June 2013
Salkeld (green) v Twelve Oaks (white) in a Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Polo match on Lawns 2 at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Sunday 23 June 2013

A large crowd saw Dubai’s team in great form, with Cambiaso reading the match like a book and pulling out all the right moves, Nico Pieres outplaying his seven-goal handicap and Alec White a worthy addition to the team.

Talandracas played together as a strong unit with the class and strength of Juan Martin Nero showing through in brilliant bursts of play.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The scores remained level through the first two chukkas with Dubai pulling ahead from the third. Despite a rally by Talandracas in the fifth, it was not sufficient to prevent victory ultimately for Dubai at 13-11.

A very close second match saw the scores level almost to the last, with Salkeld narrowly losing to Twelve Oaks 10-11.