The Cuartetera, the most emblematic broodmare of Adolfo Cambiaso and the Argentine pole has died: “Simply thank you”

Hummingbird, Aiken Care, Good Luck, Cuartetera…

hummingbird He’s that gelding that fell into the hands of his master when he was playing for Ellerstina. The one who was the protagonist of historic plays such as the escape concluded in the decisive goal of Palermo 1997 in the extra chukker against Indios Chapaleufú or the all-out run that defined Palermo 1998 against Indios Chapaleufú II. And it was also the same that together with Lobo -another horse much loved by his owner, with whom he made his career from 0 to 10 handicap goals- were stolen in the Cañuelas field and found by the police after a week of 50 kilometers together with nine armed men (another story tells that they were in a refrigerator about to be slaughtered…)

Aiken Care it was the best the best polo player in the world had (then and now) in his palenque in the Palermo 2006 final. In another match that reached extra time, he first asked for Lapa, but on the fly he se he regretted it and opted for the stallion who, three and a half minutes later, broke his hand near the main grandstand in Palermo. The screams of its owner can still be heard. And they shiver. “save it. Save it anyway“He asked – and begged – throwing his blue and white helmet on the ground. They saved him but he could no longer play.

Good luck She is another of the top mares in the history of the 10 plus 10 of Argentine polo with whom she played for a decade in the Triple Crown, between 2006 and 2015, a period in which her mistress only lost three definitions in Palermo. She is the daughter of Sol and granddaughter of Luna. And who is Luna? Luna, played by Gonzalo Pieres, is part of the trio of the best mares of all time, together with Marseillaise (Marcos Heguy) and the other protagonist of this story. And who is the other protagonist? Cuartetera only…

Cuartetera has just died of pneumonia. I was 22 and “retired” in Cordoba at La Picaza, one of the three farms owned by Adolfo Cambiaso. It accompanied its owner’s most successful period for many years. For example, she was awarded the Lady Susan Townley Award for best specimen of the Palermo final in 2009, 2010 and 2014. But his game extended to the Triple Crown even after he retired. She was cloned and her clones produced cracks. Like 09, who equaled his record and was the best Open three times in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Or like 06, who achieved it in 2019. Sure, Cuartetera won Palermo seven times and the Triple Crown in 2013, 2014 and 2015, always with La Delfina.

Cambiaso once defined it as “the best horse I’ve ridden in my entire life. It brakes, stops, restarts, it doesn’t wear out, you can keep it waiting or inside and it always responds. She is very healthy, does not get tired. It’s Messi and Maradona together”. Was it like this? Like this and more. She was perfect, had incredible health, never got hurt, never lost a game; had strength, change of pace, acceleration, talent, ability, power and heart It was the best for the best.

How could it be otherwise, Carlos “Polito” Ulloa was his tamer. “I remember the spectacular match that Cambiaso gave me to tame; among them were Cuartetera and Buenaventura. They immediately stood out in the lot. To talk about the Cuartetera you have to wash your mouth…” said one of the men who knows the most about polo in the world.

Cambiaso announced his retirement in 2015 in a very particular match: their hundredth meeting in Palermo. He played it in the last chukker, in a sensational victory against La Irenita. But two years later he retraced his steps: in another game he decided to start each chukker with a clone of Cuarterera and played the last one with herwith the original.

For the farmers’ environment it is “lThe emblematic mare of Argentine polo. It was voted no. 1 from handicap 10 when the Hall of Fame was launched. She herself and her descendants represent the spirit of breeders in terms of using available technologies in horse improvement. She was a mare with added value.”