By Sarah Eakin
Federico Panzillo was unstoppable in the 16-goal Ylvisaker Cup final, played at the National Polo Center in Wellington on Sunday, Feb. 16.
Panzillo scored 11 goals as Valentino Carlotti’s Bientina claimed a decisive 18-6 win over SD Farms. The six-goal Argentine was joined in the lineup by Santiago Llavallol, seasoned polo player Mariano Gonzalez Sr. and Carlotti himself, who was playing in his first 16-goal tournament in Wellington, having only started riding some four years ago.
“It was our first time playing on Field One at the National Polo Center, and for the Ylvisaker Cup on Sunday at 3 p.m.,” Carlotti said. “You only dream of doing this, and to do this in our first 16-goal, when the stands are packed, friends and family are around, and the team played incredibly — it feels so awesome.”
Carlotti was introduced to former 8-goal player Gonzalez in September 2020 when he first started to ride under the former professional’s guidance. As newcomers at the 16-goal level, expectations were for a competitive game, but the scoreline at 18-2 going into the final chukker told a different story.
“We expected that it was going to be a super tough game. We were lucky and were able to get in a rhythm, but they are a great team, and they have been playing great,” said Gonzalez, who provided a solid foundation, playing back, for Llavallol and Panzillo to play offensively. “It’s the first time for Valentino to play, so we didn’t have it in mind to win. We were trying to play well and to be organized.”
Panzillo was named the Most Valuable Player and also given the Best Playing Pony award for the gray mare Geisha, with whom he opened the scoring for Bientina in the first chukker.
“I started on her in the first chukker and started on her in the last chukker,” Panzillo said. “She’s very easy, and I start the match with her, and I score a goal. Always.”
The Ylvisaker Cup is the second of two qualifiers for the NPC 16-Goal Championship with finals slated for April 13. With this win, Bientina joins Joe Barry Memorial winners Zapican BMW on the entry list.
The Gauntlet of Polo series is also underway at NPC, with the C.V. Whitney Cup finals on Sunday, Feb. 23 — the first of three 22-goal tournaments in the Gauntlet, which also includes the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship. Learn more at www.nationalpolocenter.com.
Read more by equestrian writer Sarah Eakin at www.paperhorsemedia.com.
