It was a sunny day and crowds gathered to witness the Jockey Club Open final in the club at San Isidro.
La Dolfina Valiente won their second title of the season after beating Tortugas 12-8. The winning team featured two of the players who won the San Jorge Open ten days prior (Adolfo Cambiaso and Bob Jornayvaz); they were joined by Pablo Mac Donough and Juan Martín Nero, who won his seventh title of 2017 (four in the Polo Challenge Dominican Republic, the Warwickshire Cup, the Silver Cup in Sotogrande and the Jockey Open).
The very strong opening chukkers by La Dolfina Valiente set the tone for the whole match. They scored at every chance, giving their rivals no space to keep control of the ball.
Despite La Dolfina Valiente’s superiority, Tortugas kept their spirits and closed the gap in the scoreboard towards the end.
This is the seventh consecutive season where Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo Mac Donough and Juan Martín Nero play together, and this familiarity was demonstrated on and off the field. Their next challenge will be in the Triple Crown next Saturday, which starts with the Tortugas Open.
Final: La Dolfina Valiente 12-8 Tortugas
La Dolfina Valiente: Bob Jornayvaz 1, Adolfo Cambiaso 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan Martín Nero 10. Total: 31.
Tortugas: Facundo Fernández Llorente 6, Isidro Strada 6, Juan Martín Zubía 6, Jero Del Carril 6. Total: 24..
Score La Dolfina Valiente: 4-0, 6-1, 10-2, 10-2, 11-4, 12-5, 12-8.
Scorers La Dolfina Valiente: Juan Martín Nero 7 (3 penales), Adolfo Cambiaso 3, Pablo Mac Donough 2.
Scorers Tortugas: Isidro Strada 4, Juan Martín Zubía 2, Jero Del Carril 1, Facundo Fernández Llorente 1.
Umpires: Martín Pascual and Guillermo Villanueva. Third man: Juan José Araya.
BPP by the Argentine Breeders Association: Richard Trampa, played by Juan Martín Nero.
MVP: Juan Martín Nero.