WELLINGTON, FL— Audi had a tough time closing the door on newcomer Zacara 15-13 and Lechuza Caracas ran over Pony Express 14-7 in Whitney Cup Semi-Final action at International Polo Club Palm Beach today.
Zacara replaced captain and owner Lyndon Lea with Marianito Gracida an A rated player. With the change they were awarded two goals on handicap and Audi was forced to play catch-up from the first bowl-in. Audi went to a very strong defensive attack right away. The attack worked, as Audi went on a 4-0 run in the second and forced Zacara into fouling six times in the third chukker while capitalizing on four penalty shots by Facundo Pieres to take an 11-6 halftime lead.
Going into the final chukker Audi still held a 14-10 lead and even with Zacara’s 3-1 run they were able to shut the door and move into Sunday’s Whitney Final against Lechuza Caracas.
Lechuza completely frustrated Pony Express all afternoon as they held them scoreless in the first and last chukkers and had built their seven goal lead 9-2 by halftime. Juan Martin Nero led his Lechuza team with six goals and was matched on Pony Express by Wellington’s Nic Roldan.
Polo action in the subsidiary IPC Cup continues Thursday, March 5 at 3 PM when Orchard Hill plays Las Monjitas. Sunday, March 8 at 3 PM Audi and Lechuza Caracas will compete for the C.V. Whitney Cup on the International Polo Club Stadium Field.
Played since 1979 the CV Whitney is named in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, who along with his cousin John Hay Whitney, were important polo patrons in the 1930’s. The son of Hall of Fame patron Harry Payne Whiney, C.V. won the U.S. Open three times (twice against his cousin), and was a renowned owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses
International Polo is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington and hosts professional polo tournaments through April and all are invited to attend. The premier game of the week is played at 3 PM every Sunday on the Stanford Field and Stadium. Information can be obtained by calling the polo hotline at 561-282-5290 or on the web at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
AUDI 3-4-4-2-1-1=15 (Facundo Pieres 8 goals)
ZACARA 2 hdcp-2-0-2-2-2-3=13 (Jeff Hall 8 goals)
LECHUZA CARACAS 3-4-2-1-2-2=14 (Juan Martin Nero 6 goals)
PONY EXPRESS 0-1-1-2-3-0= 7 (Nic Roldan 6 goals)