Dubai is one of the most dynamic polo destinations in the world. The middle eastern emirate has grown massively in terms in polo, and 2017 will be no exception. Excitingly, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club has been chosen to host the Gold Cup Series. The club’s grounds were used in 2016 and are also being used in the current season which has just kicked off.
The Gold Cup Series began in 2009 and has continued to grow exponentially over the years, in both sporting and social terms. This current season will not see Guillermo Cuitiño on the field, however, as he has decided to participate in the Gold Cup Series as coach of the main Habtoor teams, as well as continuing as manager of the organisation. “This is a new step in my career and I am very excited,” shared Cuitiño with H10/PoloLine. “I have good expectations and believe that we can position ourselves as one of the most important polo clubs in the world.”
Habtoor Polo Resort & Club is the brainchild of Mohammed Al Habtoor, one of the principal promoters of polo in the Middle East. The club boasts three first-rate tifton grounds, 520 boxes, an exclusive St Regis hotel, and 162 Andalusian-style villas.
Ten teams have been confirmed so far for the series of highly competitive tournaments. The season calendar is as follows:
-Mc Laren Silver Cup (18 goals): January 20 – February 3.
-Polo Masters Cup (14 goals): February 7 – 14.
-Julius Baer Gold Cup (18 goals): February 18 – March 10.
-Dubai Challenge Cup (18 goals): March 17 – Marzo 31.
-Dubai Cup (8-10 goals): April 7 – 14.
Teams:
Zedan: Amr Zedan 0, Martín Gándara 5, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Octavio Olmedo 3.
UAE: HH Sheikha Maitha 0, Jack Hyde 3, Lucas Monteverde 9, Matías Benoit 6.
Habtoor Polo: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Tommy Beresford 4, Juan Zubiaurre 5, Nicolás Pieres 9.
Desert Palm: Tariq Albwardy 0, Martín Valent 5, Jejo Taranco 7, Santiago Laborde 6.
Ghantoot: TBA, Guillermo Terrera 8, Santiago Stirling 4, Nicolás Sivori 5.
Abu Dhabi: Faris Al Yabhouni 0, Alfredo Cappella 9, Joaquín Pittaluga 7, Kian Hall 2.
Bin Drai: Saeed Bin Drai 0, Tommy Iriarte 5, Raúl Laplacette 6, Juan Gris Zavaleta 7.
Wolves: Habtoor Al Habtoor 0, Ezequiel Martínez Ferrario 8, Manuel Crespo 7, Justo Cuitiño 3.
Mahra: Rashid Al Habtoor 0, Jerónimo Del Carril 5, Isidro Strada 6, Tito Ruiz Guiñazu 7.
Bangash Polo Team: Haider Bangash 0, Horacio Fernández Llorente 6, Nicolás Corti Maderna 6, Fede Von Potovsky 6.
Umpires: Juan José Díaz Alberdi, Peter Wright, Daniel Boudou, Jason Dixon.