Two favorites emerge amongst an abundance of goals

Gstaad got off to a flying start today with the first two qualifying matches of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup 2024, featuring exceptional polo in the unique setting of Gstaad-Saanen airport, surrounded by the verdant mountains that are the hallmark of this singular pitch.

Swiss “amateur” Luca Meier scored no less than three goals in the opening match. © R&B Presse – Pascal Renauldon

The first match challenged J. Safra Sarasin, pitting Frenchwoman Françoise Okala against the Gstaad Palace team of Swiss brothers, Fabio and Luca Meier, and Argentine cousins, Raul and Adrian Laplacette. Raul holds the advantage, well acquainted with the terrain and its specific dimensions after having triumphed here in both 2022 and 2023. The Meier brothers are naturally quite familiar with each other, as are the Laplacette cousins. All things considered, this is undoubtedly what made the difference when Gstaad Palace achieved the first breakaway in the second chukker at 6-4. The team kept up the pace until the very end of the first match, winning hands down. J. Safra Sarasin didn’t lose out, but they needed time to adapt: Laplacette was one step ahead.

Max Charlton (in green) was determined at the start of the third chukker. © Der Rote Drache – Kathrin Gralla

It was a different story for the second encounter between Kielder Agro Group, captained by Switzerland’s Philipp Mueller, and Hublot, led by Germany’s Jurgen Schröder. The outcome was uncertain for the better part of the match, putting forth a more defensive game: 5 ½ to 5 at the end of the third period where Max Charlton shifted up a gear and scored 3 goals in the first three minutes of play. Jamie Roberts then added to the tally, capturing a ninth goal in the final minutes, while the Hublot men remained mute.

See you tomorrow in the streets of Gstaad at 4:00 p.m. for the traditional team parade: a rest day for the horses ahead of Saturday’s semi-finals.

Match 1

Gstaad Palace : Fabio Meier 1, Luca Meier 1 (3 goals), Adrien Laplacette 6 (3 goals) and Raul Laplacette 6 (4 goals)

J. Safra Sarasin : Françoise Okala 0, Bautista Fanelli 3 (1 goal), Horacio Fernandez Llorente 6 (3 goals) and Tete Fanelli 5 (2 goals)

Progression Gstaad Palace: 2-3 / 7-4 / 8-4 and 10-6

Match 2

Hublot : Jurgen Schröder 0 , Juan Correa 3 (1 goal), Pedro Fernandez Llorente 5 (3 goals), Manuel Fernandez Llorente 6 (1 goals)

Kielder Agro Group: Philipp Mueller 0, Jaime Robert 3 (2 goals) Nacho Gonzales 4 (1 goal) and Max Charlton 6 (6 goals)

Progression Kielder Agro Group : (½ goal advantage) 1 ½ -2 / 3 ½ -3 / 5 ½ -5 / 9 ½ -5

Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad