• • Pablo MacDonough won his third Palermo, first with La Dolfina
  • MacDonough looks forward to a new UK season with Richard Mille
  • A positive experience in the MIddle East
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Pablo MacDonough

Exclusive interview in Dubai

"I think La Dolfina has a lot of chances to repeat Palermo"

By PoloLine

He is the world's number one of the World Polo Tour ranking and the winner of the Argentine Open in Palermo, for the second consecutive year, with La Dolfina. He is Pablo MacDonough, who met up with PoloLine in Dubai, a place he visited for the first time, and where he played with longtime friend Bahar Jeffri's Brunei Polo Team.
Expecting his second baby with wife Mechi, Pablo talked about his experience in the Middle East, his achievements in Argentina, his life as the world's number one at the WPT, and his expectations for 2012.

So, how does it feel your first time in Dubai?
My first time in Dubai, yes, first time to play, to see... everything!!!! It is a great place, fantastic, you have a lot to do here, a thrilling country. My expectations about this trip to Dubai were high, and were all fullfilled, There's a lot to do and see every day. And there are many cool things that only happen in Dubai. 

What do you think about polo in Dubai?
Well, that's not what I came to do. It is a place where you play more relaxed, we came to have fun. Anyway, for what I heard, I imagined this was not going to be a small place to play polo. It is a great polo destination. There are many Argentine players, which is good for polo. Besides, Desert Palm is such a fantastic club. 

Going back to the latest Argentine season, what are your feelings after winning your second consecutive Argentine Open?
I'm very happy for it; it's the third time I win the Open, and with Juanma (Nero). There's a long way to go, though, I hope we can repeat in 2012. We had a great first year with this team, we got along great and we played very good, so I think we have a lot of chances to win again.

What do you think about the idea of having ten teams playing the Argentine Open? 
It's a bit the same for me; but I guess that it's very good to give the chance to younger players to compete in a higher level. I still don't know if it's good or bad, but it's all about to give the chance to these young guys. And if the Open lasts one more week, it will also give the chance to use Palermo a bit more, which is good. Maybe it has a negative side, like a free date or many difference between the first and the tenth team. But if it's about to support new players and teams, and help them to reach that level, then I agree....

A new year has just started, your wife Mechi is expecting your second baby, and you have a new project. What is it about? 
Well, it's a new watchmaker, Richard Mille, which has been round ten years in the market. Each year, they present a new ambassador to the brand, who is related to sport, and make a special watch for each oth them, as happened with Rafa Nadal, Bubba Watson, Felipe Massa. Now, they've chosen me to represent polo. It's a honor and a privilege do have been chosen the brand's ambassador.

You finished the year as the number one in the World Polo Tour. What does this mean to you?
Polo is a team sport, so the issue of the ranking maybe is not that important; but on the other side,  it shows you're there, always competitive and playing and winning many tournaments. Being there, with some of the world's best players as well as being a member of a team like La Dolfina makes you want more. I mean, get better horses, get a better organization. Obviously, the most difficult part is keep on top, which means you have to work harder.

What are your expectations for this year?
I have different expectations every year. Probably, I would like to have a better season in the US, after three weak years. Then, I will go for the second season in England with Bahar, where I hope we can do better than last year. And the main goal in Argentina, the most important, is winning Palermo.