Mahra and UAE Polo have achieved two great victories in yesterday’s semifinal matches of the Julius Baer Gold Cup against Bin Drai and Zedan. Mahra defeated Bin Drai by 8-6 and UAE Polo defeated Zedan in OT by 12-11. Julius Baer Team by Habtoor Polo won the second semifinal of the Bentley Cup against Edrees by 9-8 and will play the final of this trophy next Friday against Abu Dhabi.
In a busy polo day at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort, with three matches in a row, the first team to celebrate was Julius Baer by Habtoor Polo after defeating Edrees by a narrow 9-8 in a tough match. Patron Mohammed Al Habtoor´s team controlled the game from the beginning but Edrees put some pressure on them in the last 14 minutes. Finally, Julius Baer achieved the victory that puts them in the Bentley Cup final.
The Julius Baer Gold Cup semifinals started with Mahra and Bin Drai playing a great polo match in field 3 of the Al Habtoor Polo Resort. With Alejandro Novillo Astrada playing at a superb level, Mahra defeated one of the strongest teams in the season to qualify for the great final. Despite the great performance by Novillo Astrada, Mahra´s teamwork was the clue in the significant victory.
Mahra and UAE Polo will play the great final of the Julius Baer Gold Cup next Friday at 4.30 pm at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club. Beforehand, Julius Baer Team by Habtoor Polo will encounter Abu Dhabi Polo Team in the final for the Bentley Cup at 2 pm.
The teams include:
• Abu Dhabi Polo Team: Patron Faris Al Yabhouni
• Bin Drai Polo Team: Patron Saeed Bin Drai
• Edrees Polo Team: Patron Sultan Edrees
• Ghantoot Polo Team: Patron HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Julius Baer Polo Team by Habtoor: Patron Mohammed Al Habtoor
• Mahra Polo Team: Patron Rashid Al Habtoor
• UAE Polo Team: Patron Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
• Wolves Polo Team: Patron Ahmed M Al Habtoor & Khalaf Rashid Al Habtoor
• Zedan Polo Team: Patron Amr Zedan
About Julius Baer Gold Cup (Dubai Open)
The Julius Baer Gold Cup (Dubai Open), the UAE’s premier polo tournament, takes place from Friday, 19 February 2016 to Friday, 11 March 2016. A record number of teams vie for this year’s title. The Julius Baer Gold Cup (Dubai Open), an 18-goal handicap competition, is part of the Gold Cup Series. It immediately follows the McLaren Cup 2016. The event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. The tournament, played under HPA rules, is now in its seventh year. It has grown significantly since inception.
