Cartier Dubai polo match

Dubai, Tuesday 19 February 2013 – The four pro-am teams in the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge were at Desert Palm this evening for the event’s official opening ceremony and shirt presentations. Players, patrons and sponsors mingled, all keen to discuss the next four days of fast paced polo. Among the players was the Cartier team patron Adriano Agosti, who already has a great record in Cartier events, having won the Cartier International titles in both Dubai and China in 2012.

This year sees a new member of the Desert Palm team, Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Although Her Highness was unable to attend this opening ceremony she will be in action tomorrow in Desert Palm’s first game of the 2013 season. They face the title sponsors Cartier, and as Louis Ferla, Regional Managing Director Cartier Middle-East, India & Africa said in his welcome address: “May the best team win!”
The Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge is held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Every match will be played at Ali Albwardy’s Desert Palm estate, home to one of Dubai’s premier boutique retreats, Desert Palm by Per AQUUM. To ensure that the players’ and ponies’ style is as elegant as their play, La Martina has been reappointed as the Official Team Kit Supplier, while the Porsche Centre Dubai, in its role as Official Car Supplier, will see that both VIPs and players arrive on time. Pommery returns too in 2013, hosting the cocktail reception after Friday’s finals – always the perfect way to conclude a magnificent tournament.

For Immediate Release

CARTIER INTERNATIONAL DUBAI POLO CHALLENGE TEAMS 2013
Cartier: Adriano Agosti (CH) 0; Saeed Bin Drai (UAE) 0; Mariano Uranga (ARG) 6; Juan Jose Brane (ARG) 7.
Emirates NBD: Amr Zedan (KSA) 0; Saad Audeh (JOR) 0; Ignacio Heguy (ARG) 9; Rodolfo Ducos (ARG) 4.
CNN: Faris Al Yabhouni (UAE) 0; Jonathan Munro Ford (AUS) -1; Juan Ambroggio (ARG)7; Chris Hyde (UK) 6.
Desert Palm: HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (UAE)0;Guillermo Healy (1); Martin Valent (ARG) 5;Facundo Castagnola (ARG) 6.

NOTES FOR EDITORS
For all media enquiries on the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge please call:
Diana Butler on 00 44 (0) 7876 452170 or email her at [email protected] or
Lina Merhi at Cartier Middle East on 00971 4 30 74 751 or email her at [email protected]

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