Talandracas have won the Cartier Queen’s Cup after one of the most dramatic finals we can remember. On Sunday 16 June at Guards Polo Club, the Carmignac family’s team beat La Dolfina Great Oaks 12-11, with the winning goal coming in the closing seconds.
The teams
Talandracas were Hugues Carmignac, Rosendo Torreguitar, Alejandro Muzzio and a ten-goal Pieres. La Dolfina Great Oaks were Dillon Bacon, Kian Hall, Diego Cavanagh and Poroto Cambiaso. Both teams were rated at 22 goals. Cambiaso and Cavanagh scored every goal for Great Oaks.
A frantic finish
Great Oaks led 7-5 at half-time. Talandracas were level at 9-9 after the fourth chukka and 11-11 after the fifth, which meant the sixth began from a dead heat. The last chukka opened with four minutes without a foul, and then the drama began. A stoppage came when Pieres changed ponies and Muzzio fell chasing Cambiaso, and Muzzio’s horse ran towards the players instead of the pony lines. Kian Hall caught the loose animal at full speed.
With about 30 seconds left the umpires threw in the ball some 60 yards from the Talandracas goal. Pieres intercepted and carried it downfield. The ball hit the post but stayed in play, and in the melee that followed Talandracas scored the winner. In the end, it was a Pieres who made the difference.
Awards and the royal presentation
Alejandro Muzzio was named Cartier Most Valuable Player. Best Playing Pony went to JM Fanta. Hugues Carmignac received the Cup from King Charles III, who himself won the trophy in 1986, and from Laurent Feniou of Cartier UK. His father Edouard, who lifted the Cup in 2011, joined them for the presentation. It was the Carmignac family’s second Queen’s Cup, and Talandracas were unbeaten through three weeks of competition.
Earlier that day, La Dolfina Scone beat Cibao La Pampa 10-7 to win the Cartier Trophy.
A notable double
Alejandro Muzzio was part of the Murus Sanctus side that won last year, so he has now won the Queen’s Cup in consecutive seasons with two different teams.
The Gold Cup at Cowdray is next, and with Talandracas, La Dolfina and others on form it should be well contested.
Sources: Polo Times, Pololine
