Zedan Polo are the new champions

Dubai: Zedan Polo defeated Bin Drai Polo 9-7 to lift the Julius Baer Gold Cup 2015 at an exciting final held at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian (DPEC) on Friday.

Led by patron Amr Zedan, Zedan Polo seemed to be the better of the two sides as they helped themselves to their first important trophy of the season.

Once again it was Pablo Mac Donough showing great character while working out a fine coordination along with Martín Gándara, Facundo Fernández Llorete and Zedan.

In a very tight match, the talent of Mac Donough was the big difference between the two sides. Mac Donough, a two-time Triple Crown Champion with La Dolfina, decided the game in favour of Zedan in the last minute of the final with two consecutive goals.

His mare, Irenita Pimienta from the Argentinian Polo Breeders Association, was the Best Playing Pony while Verónica from Bin Drai Polo Team and played by Manolo Fernández Llorente was also awarded by DPEC.

Zedan was in the clear 3-1 at the end of the first chukka, but Bin Drai pulled back and made it 2-3 in the second. However, Zedan added two more goals and let in one for a 5-3 lead in the third chukka. Bin Drai tried their best in the penultimate chukka and were rewarded with three goals compared to two by Zedan. In the final minute of the fifth chukka, Mac Donough scored another two to be crowned the new champions.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Polo won the subsidiary Bentley Cup with a 7-5 win over Mahra Polo in the earlier final. Abu Dhabi Polo’s patron Faris Al Yabhouni was named the best amateur of the final.

The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series is the highest handicap tournament in the Middle East, Africa and Asia and the fourth-biggest tournament of its kind after the ones in Argentina, US and the UK. Founded by Mohammad Al Habtoor in 2009, the tournament is the premier regional polo competition of the year, and attracts prominent figures from the Gulf region. It is the only tournament in the UAE to be recognized and certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT) with a prize fund of Dh500,000.

-Ends