Hidden depths
So who wants to have dinner with Napoleon and who started their polo career on an elephant? Victoria Elsbury Legg spent the winter talking to our patrons and had some surprising answers. Read on...
Team name and why: Jada (black or white with silver logo). It
means jade in Italian which is my eldest daughter’s name and Jada is an anagram of my children’s initials. How did you get into polo? I rode a horse for the first time two years ago that happened to be a polo pony. I stick and balled a few days later and it was downhill from there. Polo is one of those things you either love or hate it and it is a real challenge, especially as I had never ridden before. Favourite tournament at Guards? All the tournaments at Smith’s Lawn are very competitive, but I really enjoyed the Archie David, Phoenician and Autumn Nations. We got to the finals in all three in our first year which was a real achievement for the team. Favourite pony? This has to be Moneika. She is an 11-year-old Argentine chestnut mare which I bought from Piki Alberdi. She’s a big solid horse, a real powerhouse, and has seen it all before so anyone could ride or play her – be it one of the kids or a pro. My dream team? Wow – that’s a difficult question because there are so many great players to choose from. Lolo Castagnola is very aggressive so you would want him on your side; Piki Alberdi is another tough player with lots of experience; the Pieres’ brothers [Gonzalito and Facundo] have great skill and horsepower and Adolfo Cambiaso is
probably the best player at the moment.
Which Guards tournaments would you most like
to win? The Phoenician and the Autumn Nations as that level of polo is fast and open which really puts you under pressure but is also great fun. We lost by one goal
40 | GUARDS POLO CLUB OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2010
in the finals of both so need to try and win them this year!
Favourite restaurant for a special dinner? At the moment it
has to be La Petite Maison in Nice. It offers great food, a crazy atmosphere and is good fun in the summer.
Who would be your ideal dinner party guests? There are too
many to name and it would take more than a dinner party! Eddy the Eagle, Evil Knievel and Big Daddy should be there though as they have all influenced my polo!
Favourite dish off the Clubhouse
menu: The cheeseburger.
Preferred wheels?
My Range Rover as it is perfect in a ride-off!
Most listened to track on
the IPod? Currently it’s Jay-Z. Other passions? Shooting is my first passion.
Best book or film? One
of the funniest films I
saw in 2009 was Coco, a French film.
Most unusual gift ever bought?
That would be telling!
MAURICE SALEM
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