La Natividad have won the Argentine Open again. On Sunday 8 December, at Palermo, they beat La Dolfina in the final of the 131st edition, repeating last year’s result and becoming the first team to beat La Dolfina in consecutive Palermo finals.
A decisive second half
We could not find a score we trust for the match. What the main reports agree on is the shape of it: La Natividad pulled away after half-time with a run of seven unanswered goals, and by the time the last chukker arrived the result was effectively settled. The margin was described as wider than in any previous win over La Dolfina in the final.
La Natividad’s team was Camilo “Jeta” Castagnola, Bartolomé Castagnola, Facundo Pieres and Pablo Mac Donough. Jeta Castagnola was named the best player of both the final and the tournament, which caps a very strong run for him over the past two seasons.
A president in the stands
The final attracted wide attention in Argentina because President Javier Milei attended. According to La Nación, he was the first sitting president to watch a Palermo final since 1990. He received a shirt from Adolfo Cambiaso on the podium, which was a nice gesture to a player who has been the face of the sport for over twenty years.
The Triple Crown picture
This year’s Triple Crown was shared out. La Natividad won at Hurlingham and now at Palermo, while La Hache surprised many by winning at Tortugas for their first title in the series. It means La Natividad did not complete a sweep, but it was still a good season for the Castagnola brothers’ team.
Our take
The Argentine Open remains the biggest day in the world polo calendar, and this year’s final was another reminder of why. The rivalry between La Natividad and La Dolfina has produced a string of excellent finals, and La Natividad’s two wins in a row have turned the story from one of La Dolfina dominance to one of fine margins and fresh challengers.
It also closes a year in which we covered finals in St. Moritz, Wellington, Windsor, Cowdray and Sotogrande. We will look ahead to 2025 shortly.
Sources: La Nación
