Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2018 | Page 212

genetic bloodlines that you haven’t got,
which would you like to have?”
“Let me see… There is Open Chequera; Open
Huracanada, also Facundo’s, which are mares
that seem different. Then there is Open Z
Jones of Gonzalito’s; some belonging to Miguel
Novillo who has mares that require different
management. I mounted some of them and they
are very soft mouthed and good to manage.
Going back, I would have liked La Marsellesa;
Billonaria; Eduardo Heguy’s Polo Bailanta, all
mares that go around in my head… that would
be nice. Marcos Heguy also always had mares
that I played against: Historia, Layca, Gata,
which I would have liked to have on my side. I’ve
had many from the Pieres family; not that many
from the Heguy’s…”
“Why did you seek some Thoroughbred
Racehorses for your bloodstock?”
“Mostly for their staying power and quality. I am in
a position to try out a Thoroughbred Racehorse
stallion. Whereas with a smaller breeder I
would recommend that they be on the safe
side and go to a Polo Argentino, because if it
does not turn out to be an Open playing pony,
it will have good market value. In my case I can
afford to lose a bit of money and time in search
for something new, with different genetics which
may not turn out well… but our organization is
big. I would recommend that medium and small
organizations go for Polo Argentino because on
average it will suit them better.
I insist on emphasizing the use of a Good
Purebred mare, a player, and going back to what
I said before, I attribute more importance to the
dam (Lucky, Carla, Hanna Montana), they are my
dams; mares with many aptitudes and finals at
Palermo. I cross these with a Polo Argentino (for
example, Cuartetera offspring) and improve the
chances of better results in my bloodstock.”
210
SCHOOLING AND
HORSE PREPARATION
“Which would be the ideal characteristics of
a good polo-playing mare?”
“That is in fact very difficult to explain. When
one manages to achieve a Cuartetera, it is a
combination of virtues: good mouth; staying
power and good nature; firm footing; fast in short
runs. Nowadays I treat myself to my children
playing a Dolfina Cuartetera.
Once you get on to good horses it’s very difficult.
You expect it to have it all. For me, Dolfina
Cuartetera is the perfect mare; not because
she’s mine. I was able to prove it when played
by different players like Pelón, Juanma and my
children.
My ambition is to be able to breed something
better through her, but I think that is very difficult.
I am trying in every possible way to achieve a
very good daughter from her; my dream would
be with Storm Cat.
I would love to have a stallion with those genetics;
they are two bloodline founders: in Polo, Dolfina
Cuartetera, and in Thoroughbred Racehorses,
Storm Cat; that is what cloning has permitted
me.”
“At what stage can you declare that a mare
is good?”
“At this stage I breed with many objectives. My
idea now is not just to breed for me, bacause I
have many players around me, like La Dolfina II,
for example, for whom my B batch of ponies is
good, and the idea is to generate many horses
that will play good polo.
In my case, at the age of four, a practice
match must be at full tilt. I think the horse
has to play a rough chukka at that age, and if
it responds well, and answers all the questions