Bin Drai defeated Habtoor Polo by 8-7 in the final and won the Dubai Challenge Cup 2016, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and part of Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series.
Team made by patron Saeed Bin Drai, Tomás Iriarte, Matías Torres Zavaleta and Raúl Laplacette played a great final against a tough opponent to lift the trophy of the St. Regis International Cup held for the first time at the new Al Habtoor Polo Resort.
The final game was very tight and both teams battled hard for the victory. Despite of a two goal gap with only two minutes to go, Bin Drai suffered till the very end to achieve the final victory. Raúl Laplacette was the Most Valuable Player of the final and mare Mili from patron Saeed Bin Drai was the Best Playing Pony.
The final of the Bentley Cup, held before the Dubai Challenge Cup, had Wolves Polo Team as the winners. Team made by Ahmed Al Habtoor, Agustín Canale, Diego Araya and Jerónimo del Carril defeated Edrees by 8-7 in OT to win the title. It was another great match, played at a great polo level that had to be decided in extra chukka. A 30 yard penalty scored by Diego Araya gave Wolves team the victory and the trophy.
Dubai Gold Cup Series
Mohammed Al Habtoor, founded the Dubai Gold Cup Series in 2009. Since then it has grown in tandem with the city of Dubai. Today it is one of the highest handicap tournament in the Middle East and the fourth largest of its kind after Argentina, the US and the UK. The Gold Cup Series is played under the banner of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA). It attracts polo stars from around the world, VIPs, society figures as well as senior corporate executives from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This year in 2016, The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series reached to have a number of 5 tournaments under its umbrella (Silver Cup, Polo Masters Cup, Gold Cup, Dubai Challenge Cup and Dubai Cup).
For more information visit: www.dubaipologoldcup.com