Dubai: Ghantoot Polo edged past Habtoor Polo 8-7 in the only match of the day in the McLaren Cup at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club (DPEC) on Saturday.
In a tightly contested affair, it was Habtoor Polo enjoying the early benefits of their hard work as they led 3-1 at the end of the opening chukka. But Ghantoot came right back in the second chukka with three unanswered goals to hold a 4-3 advantage.
Habtoor, with patron Mohammad Al Habtoor at the helm, managed two goals to lead 5-4 for a second time in the match at the end of the third chukka.
But once again it was Ghantoot in the lead with Argentinian professional Alejandro Muzzio finding the goals in quick succession while Habtoor added one more as the two teams remained on level terms 6-6.
Early in the final chukka, Ghantoot moved clear only to see Habtoor draw 7-7. But with just seven minutes left for the final whistle, it was Muzzio scoring one more time to clinch the encounter for Ghantoot 8-7.
Now in its sixth year, the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series is held under the patronage of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series has become the highest handicapped tournament in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The tournament, that started off as a 10-12 goal handicap in 2010, moved to a 16-goal handicap in 2014, and is now up to an 18-goal handicap.
