NEWS

Article courtesy of Grand Champions Polo Club/Sharon Robb.

Maltese Falcons (Melissa Ganzi, Grant Ganzi*, Gonzalo “Gonzalito” Pieres Jr., Alejandro Novillo Astrada) defeated NetJets (Santos Bollini, Cody Ellis*, Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras, 5, Ignacio “Nacho” Novillo Astrada), 12-9. Former 10-goaler Gonzalo "Gonzalito" Pieres Jr. was named Most Valuable Player. Miniatura, played and owned by Alejandro Novillo Astrada, was presented with Best Playing Pony honors.

The game marked the return of Melissa Ganzi, sidelined with a serious elbow injury during the season. Ganzi showed no signs of rust scoring a game-high six goals. It was also the first Butler Handicap, won by a mother-son combination. Grant Ganzi, a 3-goaler enjoying one of his best high-goal seasons, joined his mother on the Maltese Falcons. The pair combined for eight goals on the day.

After a 2-all opening chukker, Maltese Falcons took control of the game and never trailed after Melissa Ganzi scored three goals in the second chukker for a 5-4 lead. Pieres Jr. added two more goals in the third chukker to lead at halftime, 8-6.

Maltese Falcons shut out NetJets, 1-0, in the fourth chukker to take a 9-6 lead. Playing wide open polo, Maltese Falcons never lost their rhythm. The teams exchanged 2-1 chukkers in the fifth and sixth chukker with Maltese Falcons outscoring NetJets, 4-3, in the second half.

In addition to Melissa Ganzi's scoring, other Maltese Falcons contributions included Grant Ganzi and Pieres Jr., each with two goals, and Alejandro Novillo Astrada added one. Ellis led NetJets’ balanced scoring with three goals, Figueras and Nacho Novillo Astrada each had two goals, and Bollini contributed one.

In the 2023 final, Old Hickory Bourbon (Matias Magrini, Vaughn Miller Jr., Antonio Heguy, Stevie Orthwein) defeated Hawaii Polo Life (Chris Dawson, Gonzalo Ferrari, Santino Magrini*, Tomas Panelo, sub. Pelon Stirling, sub. Digvijay "Dig" Singh), 8-7, at Port Mayaca Polo Club in Okeechobee, Florida.

In 2014, with the combined efforts of the Butler family and the United States Polo Association, the historic Butler Handicap was officially adopted as a National USPA event.

*Grant Ganzi, Cody Ellis and Santino Magrini are Team USPA alumni. 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.