Polo star emerges in Ylvisaker Cup final

Federico Panzillo was unstoppable in the 16-goal Ylvisaker Cup final, played at the National Polo Center – scoring 11 goals as Valentino Carlotti’s Bientina, claimed a decisive 18-6 win over SD Farms. The six-goal Argentine was joined in the line-up by Santiago LLavallol, seasoned polo player Mariano Gonzalez Sr., and Carlotti himself, who was playing in his first 16-goal tournament in Wellington, having only started riding some four years ago.

Celebrations in the end zone after Bientina’s Ylvisaker Cup win. Photo: Sarah Eakin

“It was our first time playing on Field One at the National Polo Center – and for the Ylvisaker Cup on Sunday at 3pm,” Carlotti said. “You only dream of doing this and to do this in our first 16-goal when the stands are packed, friends and family are around and the team played incredibly, it feels so awesome.”

Carlotti was introduced to former 8-goal player Gonzalez in September of 2020 when he first started to ride under the former professional’s guidance. As newcomers at the 16-goal level, expectations were for a competitive game, but the scoreline at 18-2 going into the final chukker told a different story.

New star on the block – “Fefu” Panzillo. Photo: Sarah Eakin

“We expected that it was going to be a super tough game. We were lucky and were able to get in a rhythm but they are a great team and they have been playing great,” said Gonzalez, who provided a solid foundation, playing back, for Llavallol and Panzillo to play offensively. “It’s the first time for Valentino to play so we didn’t have it in mind to win. We were trying to play well and to be organized.”

Santi Llavallol – complementing the play of his teammate Fefu Panzillo. Photo: Sarah Eakin

Panzillo, 23, was named the Most Valuable Player and also given the Best Playing Pony award for a grey mare ‘Geisha’ with whom he opened the scoring for Bientina in the first chukker. “I started on her in the first chukker and started on her in the last chukker,” said Panzilla. “She’s very easy and I start the match with her and I score a goal. Always.”

Geisha won the Best Playing Pony in the 2019 Westchester Cup with Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez Jr, playing for the USA against England. “She is super light mare,” he said. “She has a lot of speed, and she can play a lot of minutes in a game. You can trust her and she will always give her all.”

The Ylvisaker Cup is the second of two qualifiers for the NPC 16-Goal Championship with finals slated for April 13. With this win, Bientina joins Joe Barry Memorial winners Zapican BMW on the entry list. The Gauntlet of Polo is also underway at NPC – with CV Whitney Cup finals on Sunday February 23 – the first of three 22-goal tournaments in the Gauntlet, which also includes the USPA Gold Cup and the US Open Polo Championship.

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