The English polo season always draws attention for its competitive level, rich tradition, and the emotional moments it consistently provides. Nineteen teams up to 22 goals took part in this edition of The Queen’s Cup, the flagship tournament of Guards Polo Club and the highest-handicap event hosted by the British Royal Family’s club. With defending champion Talandracas not participating this year, the title was left open for a new team to claim glory.
The high level of competition—one of the tournament's hallmarks—was guaranteed by the presence of the world’s best players: Camilo Castagnola, playing for Dubai; his brother Barto with Desert Palm; recent Argentine Open champions Pablo Mac Donough, playing for King Power, and Facundo Pieres, with Calatagan; and such stars as Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, Polito Pieres, among others.
The format divided the teams into three zones, each playing four matches in the qualifying stage, all aiming for a spot in the quarterfinals. After a thrilling and intense opening round, the top eight teams advanced through with hopes of reaching the semifinals. In the end, Park Place, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal, King Power, and Dubai emerged as the four semifinalists
Analyzing the paths of the semifinalists, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal, King Power, and Dubai had each lost only one match, while Park Place had suffered two defeats and reached the quarterfinals after winning a penalty shootout against Ojo Caliente and Desert Palm. In the quarters, they then convincingly defeated La Dolfina Scone.
After that, the team led by Russian patron Andrey Borodin overcame Dubai 15–13 in what turned out to be one of the best matches of the season. Park Place returned to the Queen’s Cup final after 3 years—one of the few major titles that had previously eluded them. In the second semifinal, La Dolfina Marqués de Riscal dominated King Power and secured an 11–7 victory.
Thus, the Queen’s Ground would host a final between two teams that had never won the tournament, and just one of the eight players set to take the field had previously celebrated a Queen’s Cup title. That player was Rosendo Torreguitar, who had been crowned champion in 2024 with Talandracas. Among those he defeated in that final? Poroto Cambiaso. In other words, the two were set for a rematch of last year’s showdown.
The final was low-scoring but gripping and closely contested until the very end. It was decided in the sixth and final chukker by a solo play from Hilario Ulloa, who scored the decisive goal with about three minutes left on the clock. Ulloa, who had fallen short in five previous finals—three of them with Park Place—finally completed the trifecta of major titles with Park Place in England, the United States, and Spain. It was also the first Queen’s Cup title for both Andrey Borodin and Rufino Bensadon, while Rosendo Torreguitar claimed his second title. Hilario Ulloa was named Most Valuable Player of the final, and his horse Why Not I’m Easy was awarded Best Playing Pony.
Now, all eyes in the English high-goal season turn to Cowdray Park Polo Club, where a highly anticipated edition of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup is set to unfold. Eighteen teams with up to 22 goals will compete from June 24 to July 20. In addition, the English high goal season has featured other tournaments. Prior to the start of the Queen’s Cup, Aureus claimed the Prince of Wales Trophy at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, while Gaston Polo Team won the Trippetts Challenge, organized by Cowdray Park Polo Club. Also, Cirencester Park Polo Club is hosting the Warwickshire Cup from June 16 to 21, and Guards Polo Club will host the Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup from July 27 to August 10.
