WELLINGTON, Fl., January 28, 2025--Victory Polo opened the 2025 season successfully Monday in the Metropolitan Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
Victory Polo (Becky Schmeits, -1, Kevin Schmeits, 0, Segundo Caimi, 4, Marcos Bignoli, 3) held off Rosalinda Polo/Gracida Homes (Mo Baptiste, -1, Weston Gracida, 1, Fernando Maciel, 3/Eugenie Ferrari, 2, Nico Eurnekian, 3), 4-3.
Both teams needed a chukker to size each other up. After a scoreless opening chukker, Victory Polo took a 1-0 lead on Caimi's goal in the final minute of the second chukker after Caimi's great defensive move saved a Rosalinda Polo/Gracida Homes goal attempt right in front of the goal line.
Ferrari, a sub replacement for Rosalinda Polo/Gracida Homes, tied the game rebounding off a Gracida missed attempted goal after he was hooked to score.
After that it was all Victory Polo extending its lead to 3-1 after the third chukker and 4-1 early in the fourth chukker.
Rosalinda Polo/Gracida Homes tried to rally in the final four minutes behind two Gracida goals including a 40-yard penalty conversion, but ran out of time.
In the Bracket C play, Caimi scored a team-high three goals and Bignoli added one for Victory Polo. Gracida scored all three of Rosalinda Polo/Gracida Homes' goals in the second half.
A record nine teams, including defending champion The Polo School, are competing in the 6-goal tournament. The league was forced to start late because of rain and wet fields.
In last year's final, The Polo School held off Bushwood Pink to win. The Polo School (Rebecca Cohen, -1, Artemio Figueras, 1, Facha Valent, 3, Juan Bollini, 3) came from behind to defeat Bushwood Pink (Jen Buchan, -1, Scott Sorbaro, 0, Santiago Mayano, 2, Kris Kampsen, 6), 4.5-4, to win. Artemio Figueras, who scored three goals including the game-winner, was Most Valuable Player.
During the winter polo season, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation's largest and most innovative USPA-sanctioned polo club nestled in the heart of the world's winter equestrian capital, hosts a wide range of tournaments: 6, 8, 12, 20, and 26-goal leagues, Polo School Women's Weekly Polo League, WCT Finals, several Polo Training Foundation junior tournaments, World Polo League Pride and Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails at both Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm.
The 26-goal World Polo League that begins in February is the highlight of the season for the club. The WPL, the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina, is now entering its seventh season with some of the world's top players including 10-goalers Pablo MacDonough and Tommy Panelo.
Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and short work arena. The club has 10 well-manicured world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita.
Grand Champions Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.
The Polo School, now located at the former Pony Express facility, operates in Wellington January through May and September through November. The stand-alone USPA-sanctioned polo club is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. The Polo School has nurtured several junior, men and women polo players now playing in the pro and amateur ranks since its inception.
For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.