By Alex Webbe
Friday afternoon wins by La Aguada/Las Monjitas (Lucas James, Magoo Laprida, Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) and Magual (Alejandro Muzzio, Marcos Di Paola, Facundo Sola and Jaime Huidobro) secured the field for the final two tournaments of Argentina’s Triple Crown of Polo, The Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Open at Palermo.
After previous rain delays, La Aguada/Las Monjitas earned the first qualifying spot for the final two legs of the Argentine Triple Crown of polo by scoring a hard fought 11-9 win over a talented Chapa II foursome.
La Aguada/Las Monjitas took an early 2-1 lead after the opening chukker and continued to hold off Chapa II, 3-2, after the second.
La Aguada/Las Monjitas extended the lead to two goals, 5-3 in the third, but found themselves trailing 7-6 after a fourth chukker that had Chapa II outscoring them4-1 for a 7-6 edge.
Two fifth chukker goals by La Aguada/Las Monjitas went unanswered as Chapa II fell behind 8-7; but Chapa II fought back, and by the end of the sixth, it was all even at 9-9.
The La Aguada/Las Monjitas defense carried the day, holding Chapa II scoreless in the final seven minutes of the match while putting two goals on the scoreboard for the 11-0 win.
MAGUAL 16, LA IRENITA 8
Magual took it to La Irenita in the second match of the day on its way to a 16-8 spanking of four seasoned veterans and an invitation to the 2012 Hurlingham and Argentine Open.
In a one-sided contest that had Magual on the winning end of a 7-0 score after the first three chukkers, La Irenita would struggle to stay in contention.
La Irenita was further handicapped by the expulsion of 8-goaler Matias MacDonough in the fourth for dangerous play involving Facundo Sola. Clemente Zavaleta replaced him for the duration of the match. At the end of the fourth chukker Magual led by ten goals, 12-2.
With the match in hand, Magual coasted through the final three chukker for a comfortable 16-8 victory.
La Aguada/Las Monjitas and Magual will now prepare for the opening round of the Hurlingham Open, which is scheduled to start next Saturday October 20th and will feature two matches each day following Sunday 21st, Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th. The Final is slated to be played on Saturday November 3rd.
Just to correct Jaime’s last name. Jaime García-Huidobro, not only the best polo player from Chile, but he comes from one of the oldest and most aristocratic families of my mother’s country. He is a direct descendent of the Marquis de Casa Real and Viscount of San Jeronimo, his family owned for a century and a half one of the best wines of Chile, Viñas Santa Rita. My Godmother was Luz García Huidobro de Undurraga,