NEWS

Hope Arellano* has done it again. The sole American competing in the 8th Women’s Argentine Open secured her second consecutive title in sport’s most prestigious women’s tournament. On Saturday, December 7, at the iconic Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo, Arellano and El Overo Z7 UAE (Hazel Jackson, Candelaria “Cande” Fernández Araujo, Milly Hine) earned the 10-7 win over La Dolfina (Mia Cambiaso, Catalina Lavinia, Carina “Nina” Clarkin, Lia Salvo).

In a gripping contest, both teams battled fiercely through the early chukkers, with El Overo Z7 finding its rhythm in the third chukker. Led by Fernández Araujo’s exceptional play, Arellano added a goal in the late stages of the match to ensure her team’s repeat victory.

Most Valuable Player was awarded to Mia Cambiaso, while Hazel Jackson took home the award for Top Scorer. Nina Clarkin earned the Fair Play prize, while Best Playing Pony was presented to Aventura Hiena, played by Candelaria Fernández Araujo and Best Playing Argentine Pony went to Peña Bacará, played by Mia Cambiaso.

This milestone marked El Overo Z7 UAE’s fourth championship in the Women’s Argentine Open, solidifying their legacy among polo’s top organizations. For Arellano, the back-to-back triumph reinforces her position as a leading figure in women’s polo worldwide. Looking ahead, Arellano plans to return to the U.S. for the Florida season, where she will continue competing at the highest levels of the sport.

You’ve won the Women’s Argentine Open back-to-back. How do you feel?
“To be honest, I can’t believe it. It’s an absolute dream to play alongside this team and these girls. It’s a pleasure, and I couldn’t be happier.”

This is your third final in a row and the second time you’ve won. What’s special about this final?
“I feel like every time you get to play on this field, with this crowd, in such a big tournament, it’s special. I think this year there was a lot of help from everyone: from Matias Magrini, who provided the horses; to Hasu Kuroto, who is our coach, and he’s an incredible coach. Without him, we wouldn’t have been able to do it. And to my teammates- I think they are absolutely incredible. I think it takes a village: from the grooms, the helpers, everyone. It really takes a village to win a tournament this big, so I couldn’t be happier.”

How has it been with Candelaria Fernández Araujo joining the team?
“We now have the addition of Cande, which was absolutely amazing for me. Cande is an incredible player. She never gives up; she fights to the end and I absolutely love playing with her.”

Walk us through the final. The first two chukkers were even, but then you created a gap in the second half.
“We started the first minute well and then we began to fall asleep a little bit. Once we came back in and Hasu told us to play more classic, to close our men earlier, I think that helped a lot. It’s more our game to play classic and I think that’s when we made the difference.”

Besides the Women’s Argentine Open, did you play any other tournaments in Argentina?
“Yes, I was able to play with the two Magrini boys, Keko* and Santino* and Facundo Llosa. I played two 20-goal games with them, which was absolutely amazing in the Association's Fields in Pilar. I also played a lot of other women’s tournaments during the Triple Crown leading up to this.”

What are you going to do in the United States next year? Will you play the U.S. Women’s Open Championship? Do you have any other plans?
“In the States, yes. I’ll return home to my farm for a week or so, then head to Florida for our season there.”

*Hope Arellano and Kristos “Keko” Magrini are Active Team USPA Members. Santino Magrini is Team USPA alumnus. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

All photos courtesy of ©Sergio Llamera.