NEWS

At just 22 years old, Timmy Dutta* has already made his mark on American polo. An active member of Team USPA, the young star has competed in some of the country’s most prestigious tournaments, including the Gauntlet of Polo and the USPA Junior Open Final.

More recently, Dutta led his team to victory on the newly refurbished Field 1 at Palermo in the Copa de Oro Metro Alto, a tournament with 15 participating teams at the 21- to 24-goal level. Playing for La Cañada La Mancha, Dutta and his team defeated Don Urbano 13-7 and was named Most Valuable Player. Up next for Dutta is the Copa de Oro Metro Mediano final, played at the 16- to 20-goal level. He will be joined by Facundo Llosa once again, while Piki Diaz Alberdi and Gonzalo Santamaria will replace Bautista Arrastúa and Tomás Garcia Del Rio from the Metro Alto final. Dutta confirmed he will return next year to compete in the Gauntlet of Polo with his team Dutta Corp, who reached the USPA Gold Cup semifinals this past season.

After La Cañada La Mancha’s victory in the Copa De Oro Metro Alto, the 22-year-old Active Team USPA member talks about his season in Argentina and the future of his organization. Dutta spoke with CLICKPOLOUSA to discuss his recent success in Palermo, plans to start his own organization in Argentina Dutta Corp returning to the Gauntlet of Polo at the National Polo Center (Wellington, Florida) this winter.

You just won the Copa de Oro Metro Alto. What a way to start the Argentine season! How do you feel?
“It’s an amazing way to start the season—I’m really happy. This is the first year that I’ve truly organized everything in Argentina, with my own horses, renting my own barn with my own staff. It feels incredible to start like this, especially after having a good season in America too. I worked hard during the summer, prepared the horses and came to Argentina early. Being prepared was definitely a game-changer for me.”

You won the final match 13-7. Did you expect such a difference?
“Not really. They are all exceptional players and a cohesive four-man team; they had to win every game to reach this point too. When we began, we said, 'Listen, we’ll play our game,' played man-to-man and saw what resulted.”

What can you say about the Metro Alto?
“It’s the best polo in the world, hands down. You play against the top players, ride the best horses and engage with the finest organizations. The unique thing is that they are all four-man teams. Every team poses its own challenges; you play on different fields, in varied locations against tough players. If you want to excel in polo and improve daily this is the place to be and compete in tournaments. Just having the chance to win one is truly amazing.”

How is your setup in Argentina?
“I rented a barn at San Jorge Chico and kept some horses there with a three-man staff. It was vital for me to establish my own organization in Argentina, mirroring what I have in the U.S., to transfer some of it here and engage in top-tier polo. If I rent horses, I won't play as effectively as when using my own. I began building my organization with the goal of participating in the Camara de Diputados, to be adequately organized to play professionally and remain competitive.

I didn’t bring any horses from the U.S. but the aim was to acquire horses in the right age bracket for long-term use and immediate play. It's challenging to say, 'I need to buy a 12-horse string.' If you manage it, kudos, but finding 12 exceptional horses is tough. So, we did this over one and a half years, each season spotting maybe three or four horses. Some are older, others younger; some are playing in white pants for the first time, while others have played in the Argentine Open. My collection is diverse, and I plan to eventually import some from the United States and incorporate them.

When I initiate a breeding program I want to introduce some American bloodlines and pair them with top Argentine stallions, aiming for outstanding offspring. I have a clone of my best mare from the U.S. here in Argentina.”

How does your season in Argentina proceed?
“We are set to play in the Copa de Oro Final of the Metro Mediano. We won one already, which was exhilarating, so we hope for another win. I will team up with Facu Llosa [Facundo Llosa], Piki Diaz Alberdi and Gonzalo Santamaria. I believe we have a strong team. They are wonderful individuals and a joy to be around. Ultimately, the goal is to play with likable, skilled people, have a good time, improve, and clinch a few games and tournaments along the way.

This season, apart from these two cups, we are also playing in La Cañada. Later, I'll head to Chile for the Pan-American games, assisting my father's company in horse logistics and ensuring everything operates seamlessly. Concurrently, I'll fly back to Argentina for a tournament. I'm uncertain which one, but likely one or two, so I’ll be shuttling between the two locations.”

Returning to the U.S. topic, you played the Gauntlet this year. What’s next?
“Yes! I'm thrilled to announce that Tomás Garcia Del Rio, [Mariano] Nino Obregon and Joaquin Avendaño will be rejoining next year, maintaining this year's line-up. We aim to advance beyond the semifinals and hopefully play in the finals. The horses are in excellent form. I've introduced some new ones this year and personally trained several young ones. I'm eager to see them, plus a few from last year, in action. It promises to be an exciting year.”

*Timmy Dutta is an Active Team USPA Member. 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.