Audi Captures Power Horse Invitational; Gonzalito Pieres Sweeps MVP, BPP Honors

WELLINGTON, March 25, 2025---Audi won its season debut Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club.

By Sharon Robb

Photos by Candace Ferreira

Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Nic Roldan, 7, Gonzalito Pieres, 8, Santi Toccalino, 7) defeated La Fe/Eastern Hay (Keko Magrini, 6, Louis Devaleix, 1, Fran Elizalde, 9, Robi Bilbao, 5), 15-13, to win the Power Horse Invitational.

Argentine great Gonzalito Pieres was Most Valuable Player.

"It was a good game," Pieres said. "We were looking forward to playing this team. We had to give them two goals and it was important for us to start strong and cut their lead as soon as possible. We stayed disciplined."

Three pony blankets were awarded. The Grand Champions Polo Club BPP was Siempre Mafalda, played by Pieres and owned by Alejandro Novillo Astrada.

The American Polo Horse Association BPP was 11-year-old Chestnut mare Ensenada Fedex, played by Toccalino and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm.

The World Polo League BPP was 7-year-old bay mare Comemdada, played and owned by Elizalde.

The hardfought physical game served as a tuneup for several of the players competing in the U.S. Open which begins on Wednesday at National Polo Center. Roldan, Pieres and Toccalino will join Melissa Ganzi on The Setai when they open play Thursday against Pilot. La Fe/Eastern Hay plays Dutta Corp on Friday.

"It was important to play another game before the U.S. Open," Pieres said. "We wanted to try to know what each teammate was going to do. We played well as a team."

The close game had seven lead changes in the first half. Audi controlled the tempo in the third chukker taking leads of 7-5, 8-5 and 9-6 before going into the half with a 9-8 advantage after Elizalde drained a 130-yard goal to cut the lead to one with two minutes left.

In the first half, Audi outshot La Fe/Eastern Hay, 11-9, led in throw-ins, 8-7, knock-ins, 3-2, and fouls, 7-5.  

La Fe/Eastern Hay seemed to turn up the heat after the courtesy pony change in the fourth chukker where Magrini scored to tie the game, 10-10, going into the fifth chukker.

Audi opened the fifth chukker with Pieres' 30-yard penalty conversion to take an 11-10 lead. Roldan scored on a nicely angled shot to go up, 12-10. Magrini came back scoring off the throw-in with 5:48 left to cut Audi's lead to 12-11. A minute later, Balbao scored to tie the game again, 12-12. Audi took a 13-12 lead on another Pieres 30-yard penalty conversion.

Ganzi scored to open the sixth chukker for a 14-12 advantage. A minute later Magrini scored to close the gap to one goal, 14-13. After two missed scoring attempts by Audi, Pieres, who dominated the sixth chukker on both ends of the field, converted a 30-yard penalty for an insurance goal. Audi then turned on the defense to eat up the clock.

For the game, Audi led in shots on goal, 20-17, and knock-ins, 6-5. La Fe/Eastern Hay led throw-ins, 14-12 and fouls, 10-9.

Audi got balanced scoring from its lineup. Pieres and Roldan each had five goals. Ganzi had three goals and Toccalino added two goals.

For Le Fe/Eastern Hay, Elizalde had four goals,  Magrini and Bilbao each had three and Devaleix added one goal. The team was also awarded two goals on handicap.

American actress and singer songwriter Kelley Jakle, a fan favorite at Grand Champions and Aspen Valley Polo Clubs, served as awards presenter.