We’ve had some very good teams here in the 20-goal over the last 20 years, but I doubt we have ever had one this dominating. Mark Ganzi has come up with the gem for now (underrated team) and I see no change. The Polo Association does not want to deal with it and they will not.
It was a very good game for anyone in polo or not. It was the finals and there was a weak crowd that showed up to watch. It is a bit discouraging when we have a full house of very good polo and players here in Santa Barbara, but no worries, the game was 2 games in one. Zacara just smashed Audi for 3 chukkers and all the talk was “where is Superman?” He was just not on assignment for the first 3 chukkers. Ruki looked like Superman scoring at will. He did miss one easy shot on goal, but he scored about 6 in 3 chukkers. At halftime, however, it was 10 minutes and that was 9 minutes too long for Zacara. Gonzalo Pieres did just a brief rehab during the break and said “we’ll we change” and they did. They started the 4th trailing 8 to 3 and then it all became evident just how good this 3-goal Gonzalo Del Torre is. Gonzalo Pieres put him on Ruki Bailleau and it was 9 to 2 in the next 18 minutes. Audi took the lead in the 5th, so maybe it was less time and ran it out in the 6th. This was all done with Santi Torres playing very well and Lyndon Lea and Marc Ganzi about even. Ruki + and GP + so who is the difference? You tell me. Gonzalo Del Torre took a 3-goaler for 3 chukkers and then a 7-goaler for 3 chukkers. And oh yes, he scored as well.
It was a fun game to watch. Gonzalo Pieres reminds me of Pop. He will figure it out, so forget a 5-goal lead unless it’s the bottom of the 6th. It isn’t OVER and AUDI isn’t finished yet. Well done Audi, Zacara is not a walk in the park. It was a good game.
In the Consolation Finals it was the T-Man stepping up to the plate and doing it well. Tom Barrack came smoking through in the last 3 chukkers and scored 3 goals to lead his pros and Piocho to the consolation title. Piocho Ranch stopped Grant’s Farm by 1 or 2. It was also a very good game with a superb show of both 4-legged and 2-legged athletes. In the fifth chukker of this game and going at a very good speed, Jeff Hall’s horse slipped nearly going down. This unseated Jeff Hall, but he landed on his feet about 3 yards in front of Memo. Memo Gracida just hit the brakes and like a Ferrari just shut it down. Amazing on all fronts. It takes a lot of skill to land on your feet and it takes a hell of a lot to stop 1200 lbs in 7 feet with just 2 reins. It was a show of GREAT talent.
In the morning game at fabulous Piocho Ranch it was fantastic first class service as Tom Barrack did it first class. He hosted a breakfast for all in a fantastic setting and then a few chukkers of polo and then a superb lunch in the same setting. If you ever get a chance to see a PCO game at Piocho Ranch, you are fool to miss it. Long Beach continued the misery of Lucchese as the team that is 20-goals for 3 chukkers, but never 6 chukkers. It’s a new tournament and today is the first day for the next tournament.
Bracket 1 Bracket 2
A. Lucchese E. ERG
B. Audi F. Grand Champions
C. Zacara G. Long Beach
D. Grant’s Farm H. Piocho Ranch
Cross bracket A vs. E and so on down the line for round 1, which starts on Thursday August 21st.
See ya.
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