Park Place qualified to the final of the Queen’s Cup, after a remarkable match against Dubai. Andrey Borodin and Co are no strangers to the decisive game of the Queen’s Cup – they played it several times but they were never able to win it. So this time it will be sort of a rematch. On a personal side, The Queen’s Cup and the Argentine Open are the only titles that are left for Hilario Ulloa.
Lincoln-born Hilario spoke to PoloLine about the current moment of Park Place, his aim to win the Queen’s Cup, and what’s coming up next in the future, more precisely, the Argentine season, and the partnership between La Hache and La Irenita.
Park Place played a remarkable semifinal, but in the last chukkas Dubai bounced back and they managed to remain one goal behind. What have you done in order not to lose control and seal the deal?
I think we played a great match, but, well, it is a semifinal, and you have Dubai with Jeta Castagnola in front of you; so we were well aware they could come to us at any moment. I guess we were a bit worried, and made some mistakes as well. But the idea was to remain confident, even in the fifth chukka when they closed the gap to two goals. We knew we would play a tough sixth chukka, but we managed to be three goals ahead with two or three minutes remaining. To make a long story short, it was tough, but we made it to the final.
How do you see the team and its growth?
It was difficult at the start; this is a very hard season, with very good organisations and teams. I think we started to take off in the match against Ojo Caliente – it was another tough contest, that ended up in extra chukka. From then onwards, I feel the team changed – in fact, I think this is our best version; we’re playing better, open. And we are much looking forward to Sunday, because the team and the horses are doing very well.
On a personal side, it’s nice to see Park Place in the final of the Queen’s Cup again, but you want to win it as well, don’t you?
Yes; after five Queen’s Cup finals, I want to win it. This one and the Argentine Open. I think we have everything to make it this year. We never give up, we never surrender. We are very well mounted, we are very competitive; it took us two years but we did it. I hope we can make it on Sunday, because we are doing everything to achieve this goal.
In terms of horses, you said they are working very well, and you added some ones you brought from Argentina. Do you see any horse that is doing better than the others?
It’s two years I knew I had to get a brand new string. I brought a couple last year and many more this year. Three from Argentina – a clone of La Mariada, that’s a bit new but works fine; another is I Missy Marisa, a mare I bought from Julio Zavaleta last year in Argentina and works remarkably well; and Irenita Marisa, which is my best mare of the season. In addition, I brought some I bought from Matias Magrini, and Corchito Zavaleta. I added a total of eleven horses to my string, in two years. It’s a huge reestructuration, but it’s worth it.
On another matter, La Hache and La Irenita have formed a partnership to play the season in Argentina. Why La Irenita and what do you think both organisations could contribute to each other?
I think it’s a nice partnership. La Irenita and La Hache are two organisations that are very focused on the breeding and their own places. Today, Pablo and Matías MacDonough have their grounds, their horses, a lot experience, and La Hache can contribute with horses for Nachi du Plessis. I think that’s our strenghth. I love this lineup. And although it’s more likely I have to change my position, I am confident I am able to adapt as quick as possible. But I know I have a very solid team behind me, so that depends solely on myself.