RoR Polo Series

Overview

RoR will give prizes at the International matches, high and medium goal matches as well as at the Pony Club and Junior HPA Championships in 2011.

The prizes will be awarded to the best playing thoroughbred raced anywhere in the world at the International matches and at other high goal games. At medium goal matches, the Cartier International, Pony Club and Junior HPA, ponies must have raced in the UK. To be eligible all horses must be registered with RoR. 

High or Medium Goal
RoR is offering a top prize of £2,500 and four runners-up prizes of £1,000 each to the ex-racehorses judged to be the best playing polo ponies on the polo circuit.  All horses must have raced in the UK and be registered with RoR.

They will be judged by a committee, in conjunction with the clubs and the HPA, on their polo performance past and present.  A final decision will be made at/after the Prince of Wales/Hurlingham play offs in Berkshire before the Cartier International weekend in 2011.  These awards will be presented at the HPA/Cartier dinner in July 2011.

Low Goal
Six prizes of £500 each will be awarded to the best polo ponies ridden by 1-goal and under players at the end of the season in September.  They will be given to players who have played and produced their ex-racehorses who are registered with RoR.

To have the pony considered, the recommendation must be put forward to RoR by a club, the HPA or official HPA team coaches. An award ceremony for these will take place at a racecourse or other venue presented by a racing ‘celebrity’.

'Racing to Polo' DVD
To help promote and encourage players to retrain a former racehorse, RoR has made a DVD ‘Retraining of Racehorses – Racing to Polo'.  For a preview and details on how to purchase click here.   RoR's education plan also includes lecture/demos.

RoR Polo Series winners at High or Medium Goal 2011

Five ex-racehorses judged to be the most successful on the polo circuit at high or medium goal were awarded RoR prizes at the HPA Cartier Dinner on 21st July. The overall winner was presented with £2,500, and four other prizes of £1,000 were also awarded.  The winners were: 

Overall winner of £2,500 and the RoR Cup

BAILEYS BRIZILIAN (CoCo) and Matt Perry 
A six-year-old by Captain Rio, she ran nine times on the flat as a two-year-old when trained by Chris Dwyer.
In Polo, she is extremely easy to handle and a beautiful type of pony. She is very powerful, fast and gives everything in every game. 

Winners of £1,000 each

CIANDRA GIRL (Havanah) and Roddy Williams
A nine-year-old mare by Rossini, she ran three times as a two-year-old when trained by Roy Brotherton.
In Polo, she has exceptional capacity and speed and is one of Roddy’s best ponies. She won the Best Playing Pony at the morning game of Cartier 2010 and played the Gold Cup with Sumaya 2011.

WATCH OUT JESS (Jess) and Doug McGregor (Black Bears)
An eight-year-old mare by Averti, she had 10 starts on the flat as a two and three-year-old when trained by Michael Madgewick.
In Polo, this year she has played a full season for the Black Bears Polo Team at 8,15 & 18 goal level. She played in the semi finals of the Archie David Cup, the finals of the Gerald Balding and Royal Windsor Cups. She is proving herself to be an excellent polo pony.

MANDARINKA and Henry Brett
A six-year-old by Kyllachy, he ran eight times on the flat as a two-year-old when trained by Peter Winkworth.
In Polo, he was bought from Tattersalls and showed great promise from day 1. He is a very consistent horse, uncomplicated and has been playing 15-18 goal this season. He played in the International on Sunday 24th July.

LOVEYOULONGTIME (Snoopy) and Oliver Hipwood 
A 10-year-old by Compton Place, she ran three times as a three-year-old on the flat whilst in training with Andrew Balding.
In Polo, she was bought from Ascot Sales, she is very easy to deal, laidback and has a good brain. She has been playing 12, 15 & 18 goal this year with Oli and was played in the Gold Cup by Sebastian Merlo. She played in the International on Sunday 24th July.

RoR Polo Series 2011

RoR will be awarding prizes at the following matches in 2011:

MAY
21st  - TEST MATCH, Cowdray
Winner: HESTONEL - Mark Tomlinson
29th  - GERALD BALDING CUP, Cirencester 
Winner - TIMELESS MELODY - Jack Richardson

JUNE
12th  - QUEENS CUP FINAL - Guards Polo Club
Winner - AUTOUR DU MONDE - Juan Martin Nero
18th - TEST MATCH -  Beaufort 
Winner: HESTONEL - Mark Tomlinson

JULY
14th July - GOLD CUP SEMI-FINAL, Cowdray 
VIUNDA - Sebastian Merlos and CURVES - Ignatius Du Plessis
24th July - CARTIER INTERNATIONAL, Guards 
RECKLESS MOMENT- Jonny Good

AUGUST 
7th August - WARWICKSHIRE CUP, Cirencester
SECRET DOSSIER - Henry Brett
7th August - PONY CLUB FINALS, Cowdray
MISS BOUGGY WOOGY - Ollie Powell
21st August - COUNTY CUP FINAL, Cirencester
MARMALADE - George Meyrick
29th August - KNEPP CASTLE, West Sussex
LOL DRAPER - Ed Hitchman

RoR Low Goal - Prize Winners 2010

Five prizes of £500 were recently awarded by RoR to the best bought and played ponies ridden by 1-goal and under players.  The winners were:  

PERFECT HINDSIGHT (Harry) and Freddie Horne (1)
Harry was bought off the track by Freddie's parents and retrained at home. He was then sold to a friend of his who registered him with RoR. After giving up last year, his friend sold him back to Freddie.  He had ran 9 times unsuccessfully.

SAMPOWER SARGE (Ruby) and Andrew Gebbie(1) 
This four-year-old won the Best Retrained Racehorse Runner Up at Cowdray Pony Club Polo Champions. She was bought from Irish flat trainer Brian O'Sulivan in February 09 and retrained by Andrew.  He is now playing competitive and great polo. He ran once on the all weather.

MISSIE GEORE and Capt Matt Eyre-Brook (-1)
The horse is a six-year-old and Matt says she is perfect to school, and likely to become his best horse.  She is beginning to be as good on the polo pitch as she is when schooling.  She ran 26 times over hurdles and fences. 

MISS BOUGGY WOOGGY and Ollie Powell (1)
This five-year-old was bought from the rehoming of racehorses charity, HEROS, and was a natural right from the start. She has played competively all season and is a very exciting prospect for the future.  She ran 12 times on the flat.

BUSY JACQ (BJ) and Ed Winterton (1)
A thirteen-year-old, BJ is Ed’s best pony and he has played her all season, winning three tournaments on her. She is very level and quick, and is very quiet to deal with and has a lovely personality. This is Ed’s third year playing her.  She ran twice on the flat. 

IVORY PRINCE (Rodney) and Catriona Baker (-1) 
Catriona produced and played the nine-year-old Rodney in arena polo, winning a RoR prize.  He has been playing for Sumaya in all the Gold Cup games this summer, he also paraded for RoR at Sandown.  He ran 7 times unsuccessfully on the flat. 

BAILEY'S BRAZILIAN and Matt Perry(1) 
Matt has had Bailey's Brazilian since she was a two-year-old and trained her himself. She has also played in almost everything this year and is only five-years-old. She has had an extremely good year and is currently Matt’s best horse.  He plans even bigger things for her next year.  She ran 9 times on the flat unsuccessfully.