Sat 27th Sep 2025Bigger, better and just as beautiful. Impressive crowds, international player line-up plus Arabian Horse Show Day 2 2025 Singureni Manor Polo Cup
Building on the success of last year’s event it is wonderful to see the initial warm welcome and enthusiasm for polo going from strength to strength in Romania.
This year we are delighted to witness the massive changes at Singureni Manor as the first green shoots of last year’s enthusiasm take root, as polo becomes more established. In just one year, the Singureni Polo Sports Club Association has been founded, which includes the first polo school in Romania, with the first crop of Romanian and international players taking lessons from the resident professionals.
The progress has been remarkable, as one full sized grass field has been constructed, with a second underway and building of new Polo Club facilities are well advanced. Over 50 ponies have been imported and now call Singureni Manor Polo Club their home.
To say host Cristina Roșu has embraced polo would be an understatement, as in less than a year she has progressed from a non-rider to taking up polo and scoring two goals for her team in yesterday’s matches. Quite an achievement, and one that should be truly applauded. So, it was only fitting that day 2 of the competition kicked off with a Polo Beginners’ Challenge. Two teams consisting of two new players on each side, joined up with their team trainers to compete in a three aside match, showing the VIP guests who haven’t yet been tempted to give this addictive sport a go, just what they’re missing. Team Pink (Cosmin Mihail Ghițâ, Iosif Zamfir & Jonathan Peralta (Trainer)) faced Team Green (Antoniu Mladin, Vlad Dragomir & Fernando Gomez (Trainer)). Both sides scored a goal apiece, but neither pulled ahead and settled on a sportsman-like draw, accompanied by smiles all round.
As thousands of spectators poured into the picturesque, woodland setting of Singureni Manor for the second day of arena action, it was on to the main events of the day – two world-class, adrenaline-fuelled polo matches to secure a place in tomorrow’s coveted Final, in front of sell-out crowds of VIP guests with a fantastic view of the action in the superbly prepared arena.
Match 1: Team CORINTHIA/SASS’ Restaurant & Lounge / Maltese Falcons vs Team CARPATHIAN / Norddeutscher Polo Club
As the VIP guests enjoyed the best of Romanian hospitality, with free-flowing drinks including Murflater wine and CARPATHIAN single malt whisky accompanied by delicious food, the first match of the day got underway under blue skies and a warm breeze – where else would you want to be on a Saturday?
This match pitted underdogs Team CARPATHIAN / Norddeutscher Polo Club – the lowest handicapped team in the tournament giving them a 1½ goal advantage vs title holders Team CORINTHIA/SASS’ Restaurant & Lounge / Maltese Falcons whose experience in the Singureni Manor arena and fluency as a team was evident in yesterday’s match which they narrowly won. The sell-out crowd were treated to end-to-end polo which saw flamboyant displays from the highest rated player in the match, Alejandro Novillo-Astrada as he gave a masterclass in accuracy and skill, alongside teammate and crowd-pleasing superstar Nacho Figueras. Together, these two seasoned professionals looked in a league of their own to compliment their team-mate Melissa Ganzi, who flourished under their skilled stewardship; her confidence growing to allow her to score a not insignificant 2 goals. The German trio did their best to respond, and for a passage of play in the third chukka it looked as though they would find the form needed. But unfortunately for them, this flourish was short-lived and they did not have the firepower to see off the unrelenting attack from the opposition. The final score reflected this with Melissa Ganzi and her Maltese Falcons team ending with a final score 12 to 7½ to Team CARPATHIAN / Norddeutscher Polo Club.
The equestrian theme continued in between the two matches, with a dazzling display by Singureni Manor’s world-renowned Arabian horses – of which there are over 100 on the estate. We were treated to displays from six horses, including European Champion Mare, crowned last year. Recognised for their beauty, they epitomise elegance on four legs. Tracing their lineage over 5,000 years, Arabians are the oldest pure bred breed – harking back to the time of the Pharaohs.
Match 2: Team OSCAR / Singureni Manor Polo Club vs Team AQUA Carpatica / Grand Champions Polo Club Wellington
With the arena once again rolled to an immaculate surface once again, the second match of the day was soon underway to the delight of the packed VIP areas who have an unrivalled view of the playing arena. The second match saw Team OSCAR / Singureni Manor Polo Club, certainly a favourite with the home crowd as their line-up includes Cristina Roșu – the first ever Romanian polo player to compete in an international tournament, face Team AQUA Carpatica / Grand Champions Polo Club Wellington. Team AQUA Carpatica’s line-up featured Nic Roldan, who excels in the arena and last year was awarded both the Most Valuable Plyer and Best Playing Pony accolades. However, today they needed a strong win of a 3 goal margin to secure a place in the Final having lost out by just one goal in yesterday’s match. Fast and furious was the name of the game in this match as the action really hotted up in the arena with both sides fighting for a place in the coveted Final. Adrian Laplacette Jr. and Agustin Kronhaus fought valiantly for the home team of Singureni with the crowd willing them on and cheering for ‘their girl’ Cristina. It was a Herculean task to win possession against the tide of Roldan’s seemingly unremitting onslaught of attack, and so, in a frenetic and thrilling final chukka, it was the white shirts of Team AQUA Carpatica / Grand Champions Polo Club Wellington who won by a tighter than tight 8 goals to 7. However, it was not enough of a margin to secure them a place in tomorrow’s Final and so, it is Team OSCAR / Singureni Manor Polo Club, Romania who secured the coveted spot.
After the matches, a prize-giving took place, with all of the players each receiving a host of goodies including a bottle of CARPATHIAN Single Malt Whiskey for their efforts today.
The action continues tomorrow with The Subsidiary Final at 3.30pm (local time) between Team CARPATHIAN / Norddeutscher Polo Club, Germany and Team AQUA Carpatica / Grand Champions Polo Club Wellington, USA. This will be followed by the Second Arena Singureni Manor Polo Cup Final between Team CORINTHIA/SASS’ Restaurant & Lounge / Maltese Falcons, Malta and Team OSCAR / Singureni Manor Polo Club, Romania at 4.45pm (local time). You can watch all of the action live on PololineTV here (https://www.pololine.tv/singurenilive/).
The 2025 Singureni Manor Polo Cup Teams:
Team AQUA Carpatica / Grand Champions Polo Club Wellington, USA (12): Ryan Cronin (2), Silvestre Novillo Astrada (1) & Nic Roldan (9)
Team CARPATHIAN / Norddeutscher Polo Club, Germany (10): Christian Grimme (2), Agustin Wagner (4) & Lukas Sdrenka (4)
Team OSCAR / Singureni Manor Polo Club, Romania (12): Cristina Roșu (-1)/ HE Massimo Baggi (0), Adrian Laplacette Jr. (7) & Agustin Kronhaus (5)
Team CORINTHIA/SASS’ Restaurant & Lounge / Maltese Falcons, Malta (12): Melissa Ganzi (0), Nacho Figueras (5) & Alejandro Novillo Astrada (7)
 | 
Contact us 
Fri 3rd Oct 2025
Thu 2nd Oct 2025
Wed 1st Oct 2025
Mon 29th Sep 2025
Sun 28th Sep 2025
Sat 27th Sep 2025
Sat 27th Sep 2025
Fri 26th Sep 2025
Tue 23rd Sep 2025
Mon 22nd Sep 2025
Sun 21st Sep 2025
Wed 17th Sep 2025
Tue 16th Sep 2025
Mon 15th Sep 2025
