Hummingbird, Aiken Cura, Buenavuentura, Cuartetera...
Hummingbird is that castrated horse that came into the hands of its owner when he played for Ellerstina. The one who was the protagonist of historical plays such as the breakaway that ended in the decisive goal of Palermo 1997 in the supplementary chukker against Indios Chapaleufú or the run of the whole field that defined Palermo 1998 against Indios Chapaleufú I I. And it was also the same that together with Lobo – another horse very dear to its owner, with which he made his career from 0 to 10 goals handicap – were robbed in the field of Cañuelas and which the police found after a week 50 kilometers away with nine armed men (another story tells that they were in a refrigerator about to be slaughtered ...)
Aiken Cura was the best thing that the best polo player in the world had (at that time and now) in his Palermo 2006 final kick-off. In another match that reached the supplemental, he first asked for Lapa, but on the fly he repented and opted for that stallion that three and a half minutes later, near the main stand of Palermo, broke his hand. The screams of its owner are still heard. And they shudder. "Save him. Save that one anyway," he asked – and begged. throwing his blue and white helmet to the ground. He was saved but could never play again.
Buenaventura is another of the top mares in the history of the 10 plus 10 of Argentine polo with which he played for a decade the Triple Crown, between 2006 and 2015, a period in which his owner only lost three definitions in Palermo. Daughter of Sol and niece of Luna. And who is Luna? Luna, played by Gonzalo Pieres, integrates with Marseillaise (Marcos Heguy) and the other protagonist of this story the trio of the best mares of all time. And who is the other protagonist? Just quartet...
Cuartetera has just died of pneumonia. She was 22 years old and was "retired" in Cordoba in La Picaza, one of the three breeding fields that Adolfo Cambiaso has. She accompanied for many years the most successful era of its owner. For example, she was awarded the Lady Susan Townley prize for the best specimen of the Palermo final in 2009, 2010 and 2014. But his game extended into the Triple Crown even after retirement. It was cloned and cracks came out of its clones. Like the 09, which equaled its mark and was the best of the Open three times in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Or like the 06, which achieved it in 2019. Sure, Cuartetera won Palermo seven times and the Triple Crown in 2013, 2014 and 2015, always with La Dolfina.
Cambiaso once defined it as "the best horse I ever got on in my entire life. It brakes, stops, starts, does not wear out, you can have it waiting or inside and always responds. She is very healthy, she does not get tired. It's Messi and Maradona together." Was it so so? So and more. She was perfect, she had incredible health, she never got hurt, she never missed a game; He had strength, change of pace, acceleration, talent, skill, power and heart. It was the best for the best.
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A shared publication of Adolfo Cambiaso (@adolfocambiaso1)
As it could not be otherwise, Carlos "Polito" Ulloa was his tamer. "I remember the spectacular lot that Cambiaso gave me to tame; among them were Cuartetera and Buenaventura. They immediately excelled in the lot. To talk about the Quartet you have to wash your mouth...", said one of the men who knows more about polo in the world.
Cambiaso announced his retirement in 2015 in a very special match: his hundredth match in Palermo. He played it in the last chukker, in a resounding 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 the last one he played with her, with the original.
For the environment of the breeders is "the emblematic mare of Argentine polo. She was voted by the 10 handicap as No. 1 when the Hall of Fame was launched. She herself and her offspring represent the spirit of breeders in terms of using available technologies in the improvement of the horse. She was a mare with extra value."