117th Argentine Polo Open Second day - Resume

This second day came with a posibility of raining (that happen in the night), so the weather was heavy and extremely hot. This condition must be taken in care for the horses and the playes for the safety of the sport and the best for the event.

With the temperature near 36 C or 96.8 F on the field, the day startded with the a usual winner Ellerstina but in the two matchs, because its next rival have two important players out.

Ellerstina won over good polo teams Alegria, 15-6, in its first appeareance in Palermo on Field number 2.
Highlights of the game:
Ellerstina 1-0 3-0 6-0 8-1 9-2 12-3 14-3 15-6
As seen in the first chukkas the Ellerstina team shown its potential to reach and win this year edition, for the moment a cant find another team in the same level of polo, and organization with incredible Facundo Pieres (with 13 goals) is showing the way for the title.

Watch Video click here

This year Ellerstina is one step over the rest as a team, in players and horses.

The second match of the day was promising, practically the winner was in the tournaments semifinal due to the superiority of Ellerstina and Alegria the team with one of the lowest handicap of the tournemnet 34:

La Aguada BMW 20 Indios Chapaleufu II 10

Highlights of the game:
Played on field number 1
Score: La Aguada 5-0 6-1 7-2 9-4 14-5 17-6 18-9 20-10
Javier Novillo Astrada , 10 goals (4 penals)
Yellow carded Albeto Heguy 8th chukka, Ignacio Heguy in the 3rd. and 8th chukka (cant play next match against Ellerstina) and Eduardo Heguy two times in the 8th (cant play next match against Ellerstina)

La Aguada in my opinion the challenger for Ellerstina this year.
All depends on the horsemanship of Team Managements to avoid unnecessary efforts of their horses due to the weather conditions.
The Hurligham leson (defeat in and incredible match to La Dolfina) was the best thing could happen to them, the best horses must be seen only to define the match in the first part and to continue the wininng pace to the finals.

The only way to win over Ellerstina, in in the horse selection and in controling the current playmaker and star of Ellerstina, Facundo Pieres, with amazing polo skills, change of pace and angles (that is not easy!), in my opinion the only ones that can do this, are the Novillo Astrada Family Team, La Aguada BMW, the team from Open Door, this year, the challenger .

117th Argentine Polo Open Started Resume first day

As all year in the same months the Argentine Polo Open is played in the Palermo Fileds, right across the Hipodromo de Palermo Racetrack.

As usual too the first sunny days arrives but a little warmer every year. The past two days the matchs where played over 35 C or 95 F , in the field.

With this temperature, the field where too hard due to a couple of days of no raining with high temperature, some player argue about this condition and claim that some injures was because of that.

Fist Day Results:

La Dolfina 18 Sao Jose 12
Highlights:
Played on field number 2
Chukka Scores: LA Dolfina 1-3 4-4 6-5 7-7 8-8 13-9 17- 11 18-12
Yellow card for Bartolome Castagnola (LA Dolfina) in the 8th chukka
Adolfo Cambiasso Jr., 14 goals, 8 in 12 minutes 57 seconds of the 6 and 7th chukkas, with Buenaventura (4 goals) and La Cuartetera (4 goals)

Pilara Piaget 19 Chapa Uno 9
Highlights:
Played on filed number 1
Chukka Scores: Pilara 3-1 4-2 6-3 11-3 13-5 13-7 15-9 19-9
Yellow carded Santiago Chavanne (Pilara)
Agustin Merlos, 10 goals
Chapa Uno indebt with the polo fans
Pilara better than their first tournaments
Tomas Garcia del Rio played and replaces Marcos Heguy injured, with 7 goals, played over his handicap

Argentines Belmont GP Nacional won by Expressive HAlo and Fuego e Hierro did it again!

Last Saturday the GP Nacional (Int G1) part of the Argentine Triple Crown for 3yo. over 2500 mts. (more than 6 furlongs) was ran at the Hipodromo de Palermo Racetrack -dirt, being Expressive Halo the winner by 1 length.
His a son of Halo Sunshine in Embrace Moi by Ride the Rails.

In 2.36 88/100 , the 6th of the worst times of this race in the last 20 years, ran in slow motion the first half of the race (4 furlongs in 52.35 , mile in 1.42, with the last 500mts. in 30.33), in this forgetable edition of the race.

The Stake over a mile, GP Hipodromo de Palermo (Int G1) was won by Mad Speed, a 5 yo. in a in a time of 1.34.58, by 2 1/2 lengths, that same day.
His a son of Mad Champ in Speed Wells by Poliglote.

Yesterday at San Isidro Racetrack -turf was ran the GP Copa de Oro over 6 furlongs /2400 mts, and was won by a horse that I appointed in my blog, as a good stayer named Fuego e Hierro, in my opinion the best argentine horse choice for the best Latinoamerican race the GP Pellegrini (INT G1) that will be run at the San Isidro Racetrack next December.
He is a son of Pure Prize in Fusillette by Candy Stripes.

La Dolfina won over La Aguada Hurlingham 2010

In an incredible match La Dolfina won over La Aguada, when pratically the match was in the La Aguada Polo Team hands, when took a lead of seven goals, resting 1 1/2 chukkers to finish .

Due to an emergency formation of La Dolfina, that played with 2 new members, by the replacement of Monteverde in the team by Guillermo Caset and the illness of Castagniola replace by GuillermoTerrera.
But my surpise came by the list of horses used by the A Cambiasso Jr. , usually in the first two jewels of the argentine triple crown the players use this matchs in order to focus and to fit their horses for the Argentine Open main objective of the polo year for all Argentine Polo Players.

But as the score came to be so close Cambiasso Jr, when in the last seconds of the match it became equalize, in the last chukkers he played Borrachera (I like her!), Buenaventura and La Cuartetera, to define with his score in the extra chukker with La Cuartetera at full speed.

The list: Novia Celosa, True, Lufthanza Burma, Lapa, Falta Envido, Hanna Montana, Celina, Borrachera, Buenaventura La Cuartetera.

Hurlingham Final Ellerstina Won again over La Dolfina

As in Tortugas (first jewel in the argenitne triple crown), Ellerstina won over an unprecedent La Dolfina Polo Team, 19-13, it was a match until the Umpires (specially one of them) came to apply the new "silence rule", where no one can express their opinion on the field.

As incredible as it can be Cambiasso Jr. , didnt score, he played after the 5th chukker, as a training for his horses, in a correct judgement of the day, in my opinion, and in the only way he can express his feelings to an inpartial and extrict sanction by the referees against his team.

His decision can be saw and evidence in the list of horses he played yesterday and the way he played Bruma, one of his best horses like playing with hand brake.

To watch the video highlights of the game, click here.

They was lossing by 5 goals in the second chukker (with at least 4 goals by the "silence rule"), and for 10 goals in the 5th chukker, due to the lack of interest in the game, after what I told.

In the 7th chukker Adolfo Cambiasso Jr received a yellow card.

The Umpires and the rulings most be revised before the Argentine Open, in honor to garantee the best for this great sport.

Some thoughts from the past

Due to the use of so much vets opinion than the people that everyday rides a horse a simple conclusion came to my head that in this days we must start to hear more from the non profesionals like the petiseros or grooms and one of the most important keys for success the any horse activities.

Im Back

Due to many emails received upon the interest to know about Polo and the Thoroughbred industry in Argentina is the reason that Im back.

Hoping that the information I gather could be of importance in the decisions to be made regarding these wonderfull sports in Argentina or just joy.

As part of the Polo season is allready played I saw Ellerstina as the ever as a great organization but this year I saw and for the first time in my opinion that Facundo Pieres has get to the pinacle of his amazing polo player career.

Ellerstina won Tortugas (the first jewel of the Argentine Polo Triple Crown) without effort due to their team knoledge and what still makes the difference in high handicap polo, the horses.

Now this weekend I will attend to the Hurlingham Cup (second jewel Arg Triple Crown) in one of the nicest places to see polo around the Buenos Aires area.

Adolfo Cambiaso JR. didnt played with La Dolfina Team at Tortugas, so the result was they lost.
But his back after an incredible year he won abroad all the Polo Chanpionships he played in Europe and in America (!!).

There are only two players that I like to see and for I go where they are playing, first Cambiaso Jr. and now Facundo Pieres .

Another interesting news for this season is that Memo Gracida will coach La Aguada Polo Team, this year. Memo will organize the teams resources with a formula, be more aggresive and offenceive. In my opinion the only reason that the Novillo Astrada isnt in a final of the Argentine Open the last years is because the horses and bad luck on the fixture.

Some topics to talk, in the coming blogs, will be horsemanship, really a rear thing to find this days when so many wrong things happen around these horse ( in my opinion) due to give some decision to profesionals or people, that never ride in everyday activity or work, or had a worked riding horses or worked as a horsebreaker, if dont think so please ask, if your vet or others profesional people around, if they had this habit (You will be surprised!).

As things never changes in Argentina, the results will be the same again and again, but everybody pretends to find different results.

Hear the people involved in the everyday operation but make your own mistakes.

Also hear the horses they also have there way to talk, be familiar to them so you will understand there needs and they will give you the reward.

Here above you can find some nice photos from Tortugas 2010, specially form the match Ellerstina and Chapa I (with secuences of the great moment of Facundo Pieres) .

This Polo season in Argentina and specially the next Argentine Open at Palermo, in my opinion shows like one of the best ever played in the recent years, due to the quality and quantity of Players and horses.

Please if you like Polo, its a must be there event, be in Buenos Aires for this 2010 Argentine Open, you will remember for years.

Last post- This is only a game

Due to the lake of interest in following the evolution of the thoughbred and polo industry in Argentina, this is my last post.

I dont have really the motivation to continue understanding people or action around these lovely horses.

I found with deep regret that doping is probably the worst endemic problem in Argentina, practicaly there are no control or non adecuate control of all precedures regarding the national doping agencies involved in the racing bussines.
Week after week (check this year as example) the are several trainers some the most famous where sanction because of the appearance of prohibid drugs, in all major argentine racetracks.

As its more defuse in the polo activities, where no major control measures are made, as surprise ones, any time of the season are not implemented, I cant remember the last santion in polo for doping in Argentina.

All of this goes against many honor people that works all day to rise and race or play their horses against other that only see their profits, no horsemenship are around them these days, just a couple of good ones but not enough.

This is only one part of the iceberg, but remember this is only a game, not life or death, its the same in any human game.

Be wise in your decisions, life is short, enjoy yourself the games and bet your life if you want, you cant lose nothing but time this way.

ASL

New TB Stallions in Argentina for 2010 Breeding Season

The Argentine TB Breeding Season starts this month (August 2010) and present the gathering again of the some of the best world class stallions of the world.

La Mission add to this year list of stallions, to Harlan's Holiday (with 15 Stake wining horses) and Pollard Vision (actual 3rd in the USA Leading second crop sires for the 2010 Breeding Season). See more in http://www.lamission.com/.

With great courage, La Leyenda, present for this breeding year, a great list of stallions with : Offlee Wild -winner of the USA 2009 2 yo. stallion season as well the USA first crop sire season, Exchange Rate -with 25 Stakes winners horses with 25% 2 yo. winners within three crops, and Freud -own brother of Giant's Causeway, with 17 stake winning horses and 18% 2 yo. winners. See more in http://www.haraslaleyenda.com.ar/.

With the last years list of TB stallions brought by the Argentine Farms, the TB industry will improves clearly in quality and quantity, the blood pool that in the coming future will provide a new horizon in all the horses activities in Argentina.

Some Polo Teams reports posible changes for 2010 and 2011

Last days in the La Nacion newpaper reports a possible changes of player in the m0st well known Argentine Polo Teams for the coming season and 2011.

The information gone public tells that La Dolfina, last Argentine Champion, could in 2011 could receive Juan Martin Nero (last year of contract) and Pablo Mac Donough, both from its nemesis, Ellerstina, after a possible departure of Bartolome Catagnola and Lucas Monteverde in a new team with Hilario Ulloa and the arrival of Nicolas, the third brother of the Pieres family team.

For this year, 2010, David Stirling (Indios Capaleufu II), to La Dolfina - Mariano Aguerre (LA Dolfina) and Francisco de Narvez (Jr.) to Alegria - Matias Magrini to Indios Chapaleufu II -
Juan Ignacio Merlos with Matias Mac Donough to Chapa Uno.

No changes for 2010 for: Ellerstina ( the only 40 goals Hcp. team), La Aguada from Novillo Astrada family and Pilara.

Teams for the Argentine Cups

The Argentine Polo Association gave the list for the next Argentine Season Cups, that starts in September 28th to December 11th, 2010.

Include all Championships that forms the Argentine Polo Triple Crown.

Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 10, Gonzalo Pieres (h) 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10 y Juan Martín Nero 10. Total: 40.

La Dolfina: Adolfo Cambiaso (h) 10, Lucas Monteverde (h) 10, David Stirling (h) 9 y Bartolomé Castagnola 10. Total: 39.

La Aguada: Javier Novillo Astrada 9, Eduardo Novillo Astrada (h) 9, Miguel Novillo Astrada 10 e Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total: 37.

Pilará: Agustín Merlos 9, Santiago Chavanne 8, Sebastián Merlos 9 y Marcos Heguy 10. Total: 36.

Chapa Uno: Bautista Heguy 9, Hilario Ulloa 9, Juan Ignacio Merlos 9 y Matías Mac Donough 8. Total: 35.

Indios Chapaleufú II: Alberto Heguy (h) 8, Ignacio Heguy 9, Matías Magrini 8 y Eduardo Heguy 9. Total: 34.

Teams to Qualify for the Cups

Alegría: Frederick Mannix (h) 7, Francisco Bensadón 8, Mariano Aguerre 10 y Francisco de Narváez (h) 9. Total: 34.

Sao Jose: Pablo Pieres (h) 7, Nicolás Pieres 7, Jaime García Huidobro 8, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8. Total: 30.

Las Praderas: Guillermo Terrera (h) 7, Ignacio Toccalino 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8 y Santiago Toccalino 7. Total: 30.

Trenque Lauquen: Tomás Pieres 7, Pablo Jauretche 8, Juan Agustín García Grossi 8 y Hernán Tasso 7. Total: 30.

La Quinta Beaufort: James Beim 7, Mark Tomlinson 7, Guillermo Willington 7 y Luke Tomlinson 8. Total: 29.

Pilará II: Diego Cavanagh 7, Cristian Laprida (h) 8, Joaquín Pittaluga 7 y Tomás García del Río 7. Total: 29.

Argentina will import EVA vaccines

By an Adminstrative Resolution ( number 446/2010, publish on July 13th) the Argentine Animal Sanitary Service (Senasa) will allow to import 500 dosis of EVA vaccines to Argentina, in order to obtain the necesary supplies and create a reserve, for Stallions, due to the incoming breeding season in Argentina that starts in August.

There are no reserves and or production of the vaccione, because the rare presence of the virus in Argentina.

EVA update, no new focus

Argentine National Sanitary Authorities didnt found new focus of the virus, but keeps its sanitary alert on showjumping and dressage horses.

As reported to the OIE no new evidences of the virus where registered.

But I have a some questions now, Why if the first positive to the virus appeared on the the 9th of march and then was confirmed again the 30th the same month, it took until May, to restrict with a ban all horse transportation?.

In my opinion what happen during those months could be the answer.

Now because this mess, understandable measures where made abroad:

1. The recommendation from the Office of the (KY) State Veterinarian to stallion managers who are sending stallions to Argentina for the southern hemisphere season is to determine the current demonstrated level of immunity the stallion has at the conclusion of our breeding season, and if it isn't a > 1:128 level, consideration to boosting the level of immunity by vaccination is encouraged.

2. US Authorities are in contact with Argentine Vets due the next importation of horses competing at the 2010 World Games in Lexington. As told by the Office of the (KY) State Veterinarian will be consulting with the Argentinean team's veterinarian and others to insure minimal opportunity of prior exposure.

Upon importation from Argentina, team horses will complete a minimum seven-day quarantine at the Miami Animal Import Center where they will undergo extensive veterinary assessment, as published in The Horse.com website.

Sire of the Britain TB race Gold Cup winner in Argentina

This Thursday, at Royal Ascot, Great Britain, the winner of the GOLD CUP-G1, RITE OF PASSAGE (GB), is son of Giant’s Causeway, the sire that will not come again for the Argentine TB breeding Season in La Mission this year as in the last seasons but left several offsprings in Argentina.

Its very interesting to pass and see whats going on in the Argentine Tb industry and its new investments like www.lamission.com

2010 Teams for Argentine Triple Crown Polo Championships

Confirmed Teams for 2010 Argentine Polo Triple Crown Championships:

Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 10, Gonzalo Pieres (h) 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10 y Juan Martín Nero 10. Total: 40.

La Dolfina: Adolfo Cambiaso (h) 10, Lucas Monteverde (h) 10, David Stirling (h) 9 y Bartolomé Castagnola 10. Total: 39.

La Aguada: Javier Novillo Astrada 9, Eduardo Novillo Astrada (h) 9, Miguel Novillo Astrada 10 e Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total: 37.

Pilará: Agustín Merlos 9, Santiago Chavanne 8, Sebastián Merlos 9 y Marcos Heguy 10. Total: 36.

Chapa Uno: Bautista Heguy 9, Hilario Ulloa 9, Juan Ignacio Merlos 9 y Matías Mac Donough 8. Total: 35.

Indios Chapaleufú II: Alberto Heguy (h) 8, Ignacio Heguy 9, Matías Magrini 8 y Eduardo Heguy 9. Total: 34.

Teams to Qualy for the Championships:

Alegría: Frederick Mannix (h) 7, Francisco Bensadón 8, Mariano Aguerre 10 y Francisco de Narváez (h) 9. Total: 34.

Sao Jose: Pablo Pieres (h) 7, Nicolás Pieres 7, Jaime García Huidobro 8, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8. Total: 30.

Las Praderas: Guillermo Terrera (h) 7, Ignacio Toccalino 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8 y Santiago Toccalino 7. Total: 30.

Trenque Lauquen: Tomás Pieres 7, Pablo Jauretche 8, Juan Agustín García Grossi 8 y Hernán Tasso 7. Total: 30.

La Quinta Beaufort: James Beim 7, Mark Tomlinson 7, Guillermo Willington 7 y Luke Tomlinson 8. Total: 29.

Pilará II: Diego Cavanagh 7, Cristian Laprida (h) 8, Joaquín Pittaluga 7 y Tomás García del Río 7. Total: 29.

Queens Cup final on internet

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TB Auctions in Argentina

From Sunday there are some atractive activities in the Tb market, Antonio Bullrich for the first time, after his depart from Casa Bullrich (well known argentine auctioner now desapeared), started a five day auction named Copa Bullrich.

The TB horses sold are from the most important argentine TB breeders.

The highest price yet is a colt by Tiznow out of Penny Hole by Seeking the Gold, for US Dollars $162,025 and bought by John Fulton Bloodstock(consignement by Haras LA Pasion), seen in the photo from TDN, and was sold in the first day.

You can follow the auction in the internet in www.abullrichsa.com, clicking on the tab Copa Bullrich Remate en Vivo (Auction on live), there you can follow the catalog in PDF by number and also see the current price in Pesos (Argentina's monetary unit) and in US Dollars at todays rate conversion ($1 US Dollar = $3,95 Pesos) .

But in my opinion the most important matter is what Mr. John Fulton said to the Thoroughbred Daily News in todays edition, that I reproduct:

"In Argentina, we are finding tremendous value in the fact that we can buy top-class pedigrees in stallions like Distorted Humor and Tiznow, for example, Fulton offered. ".

"We are buying yearlings that would sell for much more in the U.S. with these pedigrees. Argentina has one of the few racing industries in the world that is really healthy. The industry here is healthy because the numbers work for the breeder and the end user, and the
training rate is very reasonable. They raise a good, tough, durable horse here, and I have been fortunate to have been involved here for many years.", he concludes.


You can buy a great colt for a reasonable low price, raised in a natural way by breeders with allready the experience in the production of quality TB horses as the recent Candy Ride and Invasor in the United States, for burgain prices.

Highlight on the second day: A buyer from Lybia bought several of the best horses in the auction.

The Sire of the Epson Derby winner in Argentina

Kings Best, the sire of the new Epson Derby winner , is in Argentina for the next breeding season. He also presents his first foals to sale this year in Argentina where he standed in the Haras Vacacion (see him at www.harasvacacion.com.ar and or click on video on http://www.caballosdelmundo.com/vacacion/kingbest.htm).

Workforce , his son won amazingly the Epson Derby, in a new track record, for 7 1/2 L, you can see and enjoy the race on
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/members/video/ruk.cfm?id=8657 .

I will come back with this year list of the best TB sires, that comes from around the world , to Argentina for the next TB breeding season.

These list of stallions are the best selection of TB Argentina had has for decades, due to the constant investment in quality done by the argentine and foreign breeders in Argentina.

As had in the past the best stallions will be here, they bring new royal blood for the all ready well known argentine breeds, not for the TB industry only but also for other horse sports like Polo, that as saw in the last Argentine Polo Open are present in the list of the best polo players of the world.

Argentine Authorities lift the ban

The National Authority (Senasa) lifted the ban upon the restriction of horses movements in the Buenos Aires area, but the Sanitary Alert will stand in all the Argentine territory.

Senasa will still alert and control in all the country and will make all necesary survaillance to minimize the actual presence of the EVA in Argentina, that was very tied mainly to the showjumping activities as informed in their reports.

The known focus where the EVA virus are present, will still be interdicted until the presence of the virus shows inactive

The TB and Polo industries will recover to its normal activities due to lift of the ban of horse transportation mainly in the Buenos Aires area (Capital and Province).

Senasa also instruct to all related to the horse business to keep an eye on eventual horses suscepted to be in contact with horses positive to the virus from the buenos aires area or from those activities that where more afected by the virus (showjumping clubs, etc.)

EVA new focus in the Province Of Buenos Aires

Thanks to the restrictions made the spread of the virus comes to an end,

The last report from the National Authorities (SENASA) present a new focus of the virus in the near by city to Buenos Aires, Avellaneda in the Province of Buenos Aires, in a Showjumping Club where 3 analysis are positives over 87 horses suscepted.

No other focus where reported than related to the showjumping activities.

No mortality yet.

TB horses still without restriction between racetracks horses stalled in them.

The present sales as Bullrich will be done with normality and also the horses presented to the dales are porven negatives to the virus.

Posible lift of the ban for the next breeding season for TB horses starting in August.

Today a Commision with all parts involved in the TB indistry with Senasa will be gathering with the last results and the forecoming new instructions for the TB activities.