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News
from the Editor
First polo pony clone
What surprises there have been in polo over the
decade! In this issue alone we break the news of
to foal this spring
polo’s first cloned champion (price tag $165,000/
£102,000 since you ask, and $90,000/£56,000 for
subsequent duplicates); we reveal the game’s
A TOP-FLIGHT HIGH-GOAL gelding with outstanding
newest destination – Easter Island – and we report bloodlines is soon to make history by becoming the
on the official entry into the Guinness Book of
first polo pony to be “carbon copied” by the cloning
Records for SUPA’s university arena
process. Califa, a 13-year-old bay played by Mariano
championships. Did any wise readers forecast
such developments 10 years ago after seeing in
Aguerre, out of Luna and by Sobornado, has been
www
the new millennium?
cloned by a US specialist, and his “progeny” will be
.americanpolohorse
If this is a snapshot of polo 10 years into the 21st
born in Texas in April.
century, what was going on exactly a decade ago?
The project got underway when
To find out I dug out Vol 5 Issue 1 of Polo Times. Sunny Hale, president of the
Our opening issue of the millennium – which
American Polo Horse Association,
.com
happens also to be our inaugural colour edition identified Califa as an ideal horse to
– featured John Horswell’s first coaching column, “duplicate” when cloning specialists
Califa had a tissue biopsy taken
the story of a Chapa II victory in the 20th century’s
ViaGen approached her enquiring
shortly after last year’s US Open final
last Argentine Open and a report from the first
about polo. As a friend of Aguerre, she
high-goal game of the 21st – an international on
1 January on North Island, New Zealand, between
at once thought of Califa, who belongs to “fanatical” about breeding, is expecting not
the hosts and the Rest of the World (featuring Brits
White Birch Farms (the polo organisation of just one but three colts.
Jamie Le Hardy and Will Lucas). Later that year patron Peter Brant) and is in the care of Aguerre. “The initial plan is to take them to Argentina,” he
Herbert Spencer reported on the first English high-
The plan swung into action last April during the told Polo Times. “It could turn out to be good value
goal match of the century (played not at a club but
US Open, when ViaGen’s Candace Dobson met Hale in the long run, using them as stallions and selling
at a private ground), polo restarted at Rugby after a
60-year break, Geebung (featuring Adolfo
in Florida to tell her about the technology. Califa their semen for embryos and so on.” Aguerre said
Cambiaso and Bautista Heguy) won the British
sprang to mind at once and Hale called Aguerre, the price for semen from a “Califa II” would depend
Gold Cup and Arthur Douglas-Nugent took over who agreed to go ahead. The horse, who in 2009
on the intended dam, and that the colts would be
from Martin Trotter as chief umpire.
played both the US and Argentine Opens with able to start earning their keep as stallions from
Looking back to a decade before the millennium, Aguerre, happened to be in Wellington at the time.
ages two or three.
in 1990, Cambiaso was 15 and a year away from
“Soon after the US Open final we took Califa’s There has been significant American interest in
taking the sport by storm, Kerry Packer had laid
tissue biopsy, cultured the cells in our lab, and went ViaGen since US magazine Polo Players’ Edition
the Stedham grounds at Cowdray and SUPA was
ahead as normal, inserting the cloned embryo to broke the story last year, but Argentine breeders also
on the brink of being set up. Polo Times had yet to
start life – in fact, this was the year our founder
gestate naturally in a recipient mare,” said Dobson. have easy access to full information, because the
Margie Brett started to work for Buff Crisp at the
The process costs just over $165,000 and the firm’s website is also in Spanish.
HPA, when the assocation owned just one foal is always the same gender as the original. ViaGen has cloned more 55 horses since 2006,
typewriter, membership was 1,100 and the
Dobson adds: “It’s like an identical twin spirited in including top European and American competition
number of clubs 26.
time. From a gelding, you get a colt that’s fully intact. horses in disciplines from show jumping to cutting.
What will we see in 2020? Snow polo in
The foals are not weaker, and they have a normal The first cloned horse was born in Italy in 2002.
Antarctica? A schools team lifting the Gold Cup?
lifespan.” And Aguerre, whom Hale describes as ◗ For more, turn to pages 19 and 58
Cambiaso’s son (also Adolfo) winning the
Argentine Open aged 15? Or maybe – in a logical
sequence to the explosion in private grounds –
we’ll see more “private polo” of the kind we’ve
New official partner for England
heard about in Palm Beach: word has reached us
that two 26-goal sides in Florida – bankrolled by
THE ENGLAND POLO squad has an 2010 squad will be named in the
South African patron Erich Koch – are frustrating
official new official travel partner in next few months and all members
local club bosses by staging private competitions
the form of The Mileage Company. selected to play in internationals will
rather than joining USPA tournaments.
The firm has taken over from now have The Mileage Company
Predictions on a postcard please – or failing that,
previous sponsor Virgin, whose logo emblazoned on their shirt
to letters@polotimes.co.uk. Enjoy the issue – and
support of English teams travelling sleeves for home fixtures and on
happy new year!
overseas ended shortly after the their chests for away internationals.
side’s successful trip to Florida for As well as the main England
the Westchester Cup last spring. squad, the new partnership will also
The Mileage Company, which
HPA chief exec David Woodd and The
support Young England in their
operates the global BA Miles
Mileage Company’s Andrew Swaffield
competitive activities abroad, with
Yolanda Carslaw rewards for British Airways and the the aim of developing future stars
UK-based Airmiles travel rewards
away match trips such as their
for the full England side in years to
programme, will provide the team
forthcoming test in New Zealand
come. Young England also travel to
with a number of benefits, including
(13 February).
New Zealand this month, where the
discounted British Airways flights for
At present, the England squad
side will play in four matches
the players and management. The
(rolling over from last year) includes
against up-and-coming Kiwi talents.
partnership begins with immediate
Luke and Mark Tomlinson, James
The Mileage Company’s
effect, meaning The Mileage
Beim, Malcolm Borwick, Nacho
managing director is keen player
Company will be involved in the
Gonzalez, Henry Brett, Tom Morley
Andrew Swaffield, a regular at
team’s travel arrangements for
Satnam Dhillon and Chris Hyde. The
Knepp Castle and Hickstead.
6 January/February 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk
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