The US Open is coming to an end; there are only three games left – the semifinals, due next Wednesday and the much anticipated final, on Sunday. In the meantime, the United States Polo Association (USPA) presented the Best American Breed Award to Peke Gonzalez and his mare, Pepsi. The 27-years-old Argentinian player, who participated of the entire The Gauntlet Of Polo with Andrey Borodin’s Park Place, spoke to PoloLine about such an important award, the current breeding and the best mares of his string.

Tell us about the breeding, the daily efforts and work of the team behind

We’ve been breeding horses with my father for the last two years. We don’t have a large breed, we try have around twenty embryos per year, but that depends, whether there are a couple more or a couple less. The average is around twenty; after that number, is quite difficult to obtain a very good mare who’s able to play at the highest level. It’s more likely that out of those twenty, we get three or four who are really good and get within the string. We always try to have a proper number in order to make it good and have mares that work accurately. We are working hard to improve, of course, to have more of those mares either in my string or play high goal. And it’s not only play that mare, but all the work behind, which is really huge, from the birth to tame, the first stick-and-ball, practices. It’s a long way. That’s why many of those twenty aren’t able to play yet; and, as I told you, we are trying to improve the number of mare who at the end of the day, will play. My deepest and special thanks go to all my grooms, who made an impressive job.

What does this award means to you?

It means a lot. Having Pepsi being presented with this blanket is an award for the efforts that implies to breed a horse. Pepsi is an American mare I bought three years ago, so she is still a bit new; my father helped me to get her. We may breed horses in Argentina, but we are always looking for others, whether they are from Argentina, America of wherever. I started to play Pepsi this year and she grew and improved a lot; she is very much into each game and works perfectly. I can use her either as a spare, play her two or three times. She never seems tired and she always play very well. It’s a very well deserved award for her. And it’s worth to remember that she is not a polo pony, she is a racing horse.

Obviously, as a player, you always celebrate the tournaments you win more, but having your horses earning awards must make you proud.

Of course! A player, one always looks for a title; but on a personal matter, as a breeder, when my mares are awarded with a blanket, it gives me a lot of pride and joy. I love when a horse gets a prize, because they are a crucial part of the game. It’s remarkable that people appreciate and like them.

Which are your favourite mares of your string?

Actually, the three best of my string are Tan Prima Donna, Peke Alabama and Tan Garota. But I was lucky enough to have horses like Ponele El Cinco and Carpacho, who have played very well for a long time. If I have to make a top five of the mares I’ve played, I would add those two.

Which are the ones you play in the crucial moment of a game and why?

Actually, those three. I usually play them by the start of an important match, and most likely, repeat them, if the game gets tough, because they are very helpful. I have Pepsi as a spare, as well, because she is very quiet and very easy to mount.