2005 Argentine Season
by Charles Froggatt.

Just when the last gem of an Abierto begins to fade in the memory, the Argentine season pokes its head around the corner and says hola..

The excitement is already brewing:

The news from the Pampas and the Patagonian ski slopes is that 2005 Abierto winners Indios Chapaleufu II will defend their trophy with the same Heguy trio and Fernandez Araujo combination.

Indios Chapaleufu I have opted for shining youth rather than high pitched experience, Polo Times has discovered. Juan Martin Nero, the Golden Child of the 2004 Argentine Open retains his place with the tried and tested Marlboro Red Heguy trio, while Mariano Aguerre, the man that stuck in the golden goal to win the 2001 Open for Chapa I briefly found himself out of a place.

But Aguerre was quickly snapped up by Cambiaso and his soul mate Lolo Castagnola,  for 2003 champions La Dolfina. This is the first time that the Aguerre, Cambiaso, Castagnola threesome will play together since they won the Open together with Elerstina in 1999 . The impressive Lucas Monteverde, who found himself under horsed last season with Miramar takes the last spot in the La Dolfina line up. One person that may not be visiting Cambiaso’s new La Dolfina fashion store in Buenos Aires is the talented Santiago Chavanne, who was, according to a Polo Times source, been axed from the team. Chevanne will play for El Metejon.  Meanwhile in Mexico, Carlos Gracida retires from playing in the Open, he told Polo Times while playing in Greenwhich, USA.

Over in Open Door, La Aguada keep the same Novillo Astrada line up with the ever improving Alejandro in reserve. The 2003 Triple Crown winners will be looking to rekindle the fire and preserve their string this season.

No surprises at Kerry Packers old Pilar place: The Ellerstina quartet of the two Pieres brothers Gonzalo and Facundo and the Macdonogh brothers, Pablo and Matias will mount another scintillating challenge this season. After an impressive 2004 campaign, the youthful Ellerstina go into the season as one of the favorites.

A few doors down the road in Pilar Chico, and due a bit of luck, the three Merlos brothers Agustin, Pite and Sebastian will again play with Francisco de Narváezfor La Mariana.

A few hours south of the bustling Buenos Aires, Coronel Suarez look to improve on their 2004 Camara de Diputados victory by adding Canadian Fred Mannix to their team which features Benjamin, Diego and Juan Jose Araya.

	The Argentine Association of Polo has announced the official dates of the high-goal "Open" tournaments in Argentina.
1) The San Jorge Open will be played Aug. 30th - Sept. 11th  (approx. dates) 2) The Jockey Club Open will be played Sept. 13th - 25th 3)The Tortugas Open will be played Sept. 27th and Oct. 15th 4) The Hurlingham Open will be played Oct. 18th -Nov. 5th 5) The Argentine Open will be played between Nov. 19th - December 10th