NEWS

The role of the polo pony in the sport is immeasurable. Year after year, familiar horses emerge, bringing many star players glory. The sport would not be possible without the equine athletes, whose invaluable contributions deserve constant recognition. At the end of the high-goal season’s Gauntlet of Polo presented by TruBar, three horses and one outstanding string were honored with the National Polo Center’s 2025 High-Goal Horse Awards. Horse awards are determined by a poll among Gauntlet competitors, with key figures from teams and organizations sharing their insights on deserving equine candidates. The poll includes questions such as, "Which horse would you add to your string from another player?" "If you had to play on a string other than your own, whose would you select?" "Which horse has stood out as a consistent performer in high-goal polo for years?" Given that players know the horses best, they are entrusted with selecting the award winners, adding even more prestige to the recognition.

The Wembley Award is named after the legendary Valiente polo pony Wembley. The award was created in 2013 to recognize and reward horses that have demonstrated excellent performance and longevity throughout a career in high-goal polo. Wembley retired in 2016, still having competed in high-goal polo at the age of 22.

Coquito (Fax Banquero x Carbonilla), a distinguished 16-year-old gelding played and owned by Raul “Gringo” Colombres, is the 2025 Wembley Award recipient. He has been a cornerstone of Colombres' string for over a decade, propelling him into the upper echelons of his professional career. The dark bay’s exceptional stamina and power have made him a standout in high-goal polo, earning consecutive Best Playing Pony titles in the Joe Barry Memorial final (2019 and 2020) and the 2019 Ylvisaker Cup final. His calm demeanor off the field contrasts with his dynamic performance on it, embodying the best of English family Tomlinson breeding. Credited with raising Colombres to an elusive 8-goal handicap, Coquito's partnership with Colombres has been instrumental, making significant contributions to his success in various tournaments, including the Gauntlet of Polo series. ​

This year’s Best String Award was presented to legendary 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso of La Dolfina/Tamera. The extraordinary 14-horse string played a key role in earning his tenth individual titles in both the C.V. Whitney Cup and U.S. Open Polo Championship. Among the standouts, four ponies earned Best Playing Pony honors during this year’s high-goal season—La Dolfina Carola in the C.V. Whitney Cup final and again in Game 15 of the U.S. Open, J5 Arg Auna in the fourth U.S. Open quarterfinal, followed by Dolfina Lapa C07 Clone (played by Diego Cavanagh) in the semifinals, while Dolfina Binter capped off the season by taking home the prestigious Willis L. Hartman Best Playing Pony Award in the U.S. Open final.

• Dolfina Binter (Individual BPP recipient)
• Dolfina Carola (Individual BPP recipient)
• J5 Arg Auna (Individual BPP recipient)
• Dolfina Jal
• Dolfina Jet Cost
• Van Navy
• Meta Catanga
• J5 Arg Medallita
• Don Ercole Concordia
• Dolfina Cherokee Bay
• Dolfina Kate Moss
• Dolfina Dominic
• Dolfina Amar A Dios
• Dolfina Lapa C07 Clone (Individual BPP recipient)

Fletcha is an exceptional 11-year-old American Thoroughbred mare, played by Rufino Merlos and owned by Agustin “Tincho” Merlos. Purchased as a 2.5-year-old in Loxahatchee, Florida, Fletcha has been playing for the last six years, notably receiving Best Playing Pony honors in the 2022 U.S. Open with Tincho Merlos. Now, she has been presented with the 2025 Best American Bred Horse in the Gauntlet of Polo Series, further cementing her reputation as one of the sport's top performers.

Lavinia Irupe (Loyal Force x Lavinia Irónica) was honored with the National Polo Center Horse of the Year award. Lavinia Irupe is an accomplished 11-year-old mare, played and owned by Hilario Ulloa and proudly bred by his mother, Monica Ulloa, as a third-generation homebred. A standout on the field, she is no stranger to accolades, having earned Best Playing Pony honors across the 2023 and 2024 seasons and most recently in the semifinals of the 2025 USPA Gold Cup and the first quarterfinal match of the 2025 U.S. Open Polo Championship.

All photos courtesy of ©David Lominska.