After a very successful 2025 season, that ended up with La Natividad La Dolfina victorious in the 132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship, Adolfo Cambiaso revealed that he will remain with the team in 2026. At 51-years-old, he will play his 34th Triple Crown and stretching his record. He has won the Tortugas Open (10), the Hurlingham Open (16) and the Argentine Open (19). He will attempt to break Juan Carlitos Harriott’s record, who claimed the Argentine Open 20 times.
In addition to La Natividad La Dolfina (Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, and Jeta and Barto Castagnola), Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu also will remain with the same lineup, made of Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres, and Cruz and Antonio Heguy, with the latter recently raised to 9 goals.
And the rest comes behind them. Let’s give a look:
LAS MONJITAS: The orange jerseys will be back to Triple Crown; the last time was in 2018, when they lost the final at Palermo to La Dolfina. The foursome will be a mix of youth and experience – David Stirling and Juan Martín Nero (the experience), and Lucas Monteverde and Rufino Bensadón (the youth).
LA ENSENADA: Although is more likely that they will play under that name, the lineup will include Juan Britos, Diego Cavanagh, Juan Martín Zubía and Jerónimo del Carril
LA HACHE: The Lincoln-based organisation will emerge with two pair of brothers – Hilario and Carlos María Ulloa will be joined by Tomás and Benjamín Panelo. It’s worth noting that Hilario and Tomás already won the 2024 Tortugas Open together while Toly and Benja played for La Hache Cría & Polo in the same year.
STILL UNNAMED: While the names aren’t yet confirmed, there are two other teams that will have Victorino Ruiz Jorba, Gonzalo Ferrari, Francisco Elizalde and Teodoro Lacau, on one side; and Bautista Bayugar, Joaquin Pittaluga, Iñaki Laprida and Alfredo Bigatti, on the other. It’s likely that the former’s name would be Los Machitos.
LA AGUADA: After several years out of the Triple Crown (the last time was in 2019), La Aguada are back to the Triple Crown with the same lineup they had in 2025 (Facundo Cruz Llosa, Pedro Zacharias, Keko Magrini and Pipe Vercellino); and higher rated due to the handicap raises of Keko Magrini and Pipe Vercellino.
QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT
With regards to the Qualification Tournament, La Zeta Kazak, who lost to La Aguada in the playoff, will take part of the Qualification Tournament. Pelón Stirling left, and will be replaced by Guillermo Caset.
Surrinsingly, Pablo MacDonough, Polito Pieres, Matías MacDonough Jr and Paco de Narvaez won’t compete in the Triple Crown. They will play the Qualification Tournament, probably as La Irenita.
Last but not least, La Dolfina II have their team ready for 2026, although with only one change in the lineup – Nachi du Plessis will step in for Gonzalo Ferrrari.
In the meantime, it is said that the ranking and the Qualification Tournament will have some changes; as a matter of fact, the Argentine Association of Polo (AAP) is considering to have ten teams in the Tortugas Open. In the event the number of teams increase in 2026, either for one or two tournaments, the two remaining spots will emerge from the Qualification Tournament; there’s a potential chance that it could be played during the Autumn, a decision that will be made by the Board of Directors of the AAP in the upcoming weeks.
2026 TRIPLE CROWN – TEAMS
-La Natividad La Dolfina: Camilo Castagnola 10, Poroto Cambiaso 10, Adolfo Cambiaso 10, Barto Castagnola 10. Total: 40.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú: Facundo Pieres 10, Antonio Heguy 9, Gonzalo Pieres 9, Cruz Heguy 9. Total: 37.
Las Monjitas: Rufino Bensadon 8, Lukin Monteverde 9, Pelón Stirling 9, Juan Martín Nero 9. Total: 35.
La Hache: Hilario Ulloa 9, Carlos María Ulloa 8, Benjamín Panelo 8, Tomas Panelo 9. Total: 34.
La Ensenada: Diego Cavanagh 8, Jerónimo del Carril 8, Juan Martín Zubía 9, Juan Britos 8. Total: 33.
Still unnamed: Francisco Elizalde 9, Torito Ruiz Jorba 8, Teo Lacau 8, Gonzalo Ferrari 8. Total: 33.
Still unnamed: Bautista Bayugar 8, Alfredo Bigatti 8, Joaquin Pittaluga 8, Iñaki Laprida 8. Total: 32 goles.
La Aguada Don Ercole: Facundo Llosa 8, Keko Magrini 7, Pedrinho Zacharias 8, Pipe Vercellino 8. Total: 31.
- 2026 QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT
La Irenita: Pablo Mac Donough 10, Polito Pieres 9, Vizcacha Mac Donough 7, Paco de Narváez 8. Total: 34.
La Zeta Kazak: Lorenzo Chavanne 8, Beltrán Laulhé 8, Sapo Caset 9, Nicolás Pieres 8. Total: 33.
La Dolfina II: Nachi Du Plessis 8, Lucas Criado Jr. 8, Isidro Strada 8, Peke González 8. Total: 32.
Cover photo by Tatiana Frayssinet.