Dubai: The all-girl Beverly Hills Polo team got the new season at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo club off to a bright start with a comfortable victory over a mellow Ghantoot Goes Pink men’s team.
Sporting pink jerseys, the feminine colour synonymous with breast cancer awareness, which was the theme of the season, the girls enjoyed a fast start and were up 3-nil at the end of the first chukker.
Princess Azemah, daughter of King of Brueni, was in fine form scoring two goals, with strong support coming from her teammates, Germany’s Sandra Schneider, a Dubai-based PR guru, and the Argentine-pairing of Marianele Gastagnola, a pro player, and Marina Galarza.
After they added another to end the second chukker with a comfortable lead, Abdullah Bin Dasmal led the Ghantoot Goes Pink recovery with a pair of well-struck goals that brought them back into the game.
But Galarza had other ideas, as she got into the thick of the action and helped the girls regain the ascendancy to win the exhibition tie with two beautifully converted goals.
“The first match of a new season is always tricky,” said Abdullah Bin Dasmal. “Getting to know your team, your horse, the conditions, takes some getting used to.
“It was thoroughly enjoyable, even though we lost. But then again this game is not just about winning. We were there to entertain and I hope we did enough to thrill the people who came here today.”
The match, which was staged at the UAE’ only Royal Polo club situated on the border between Abu Dhabi and Dubai., formed the centrepiece of a colourful themed day to raise awareness about breast cancer.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Now in its eighth year, Pink Polo Day is one of a series of charity events that will take place at the club, which was created by Shaikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to sustain the passion that his late father, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, had for the regal game of polo.
Like the many worldwide campaigns and events that are aimed at raising awareness related to important cancer initiatives the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club succeed in bringing the UAE community together around such an important health issue.
The multi-cultural program featured a breathtaking parachute display airborne troops from the UAE Armed Forces, a demonstration by crime sniffing dogs from the Abu Dhabi Police K-9s and a thrilling horse show.
Pink Polo Day was supported by Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), The Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD), Beverly Hills Polo Club, Premier Motors- Maserati, ADS Securities and Jannah Hotels & Resorts.
