The Dutta Corp have their first Gauntlet title. On Sunday 1 March, they beat La Dolfina Scone 14-9 in the C.V. Whitney Cup final at the National Polo Center in Wellington, opening the 2026 Gauntlet of Polo with a statement win.
How the final went
The Dutta Corp led 8-3 at half-time and held off a late comeback from La Dolfina Scone, who had come into the final with an unbeaten record. The champions were Timmy Dutta, Lucas Díaz Alberdi, Facundo Llosa and Dylan Rossiter, who came in for the injured Felipe Miguens. Rossiter was named MVP and his mare Mega Provinciana took best in show. The best Argentine-bred pony was Adelina, ridden by Llosa and owned by Cría Don Ercole.
La Dolfina Scone were David Paradice, Rufino Merlos, Jesse Bray and Poroto Cambiaso. They were rated 23 goals against the winners’ 22, so the Dutta Corp were the underdogs on paper, which makes the margin even more impressive.
The road to the final
The nine teams were split into three brackets of three. In the semi-finals, played on Wednesday 25 February, The Dutta Corp beat Pilot 16-9 and La Dolfina Scone won their match against DUS. Beating a team as well drilled as Pilot by seven goals was a real marker for what followed.
The history
The tournament began as the US Handicap and was renamed in 1988 in honour of C.V. “Sonny” Whitney. It is the first of the three big events that make up the Gauntlet, followed by the USPA Gold Cup, which begins on 4 March, and the U.S. Open Polo Championship in April. Winning all three is the rare feat that earns Gauntlet champion status, and the Dutta Corp have now taken the first step.
- Winners: The Dutta Corp
- Score: 14-9
- MVP: Dylan Rossiter
- Prize money: $25,000
For the team, it is the culmination of a plan that has been years in the making. Timmy Dutta is the son of the founder of an equine transport company, and this is a very personal triumph for a group of players who have worked hard at the 22-goal level. For the rest of the field, the message is clear: there is a new contender to beat.
The Gold Cup is next, and we will be there for every leg.
Sources: Polo Times, Polo Press, Polo Times (finalists)
