Camilo Castagnola and Pilot win the USPA Gold Cup final in Wellington
The high goal season in Wellington delivered one of its strongest finals of the year, and this time the trophy went to Camilo “Jeta” Castagnola and Pilot. After trailing in the first half, Pilot came back with authority to defeat La Dolfina Scone 10-6 in the USPA Gold Cup final at the National Polo Center, closing the tournament undefeated and confirming its place as one of the standout teams of the Palm Beach season.
Played before a near sellout crowd on U.S. Polo Assn Field One, the final brought together two of the most consistent teams of the competition. On one side was Pilot, with Curtis Pilot, Mackie Weisz, Lorenzo Chavanne and Camilo Castagnola. On the other was La Dolfina Scone, formed by David Paradice, Rufi Merlos, Jesse Bray and Poroto Cambiaso. The level was always expected to be high, and the match delivered exactly that, especially in the second half, when Pilot changed the rhythm of the game completely.
A final that changed after halftime
The opening half belonged to La Dolfina Scone. They controlled the game early, built a 5-1 lead and looked more settled through the first three chukkers. Pilot managed to score late in the third, closing the gap to 5-2 at halftime, but the momentum at that point was still with La Dolfina Scone.
What followed after the break was the turning point of the final. Pilot returned with a different level of clarity, better spacing and much more control over the pace of the game. The team allowed La Dolfina Scone just one goal in the second half and gradually took over the match through long passing, cleaner rotations and much stronger defensive pressure.
The Pilot lineup
Pilot’s win was built around a lineup that found the right balance when it mattered most:
Curtis Pilot
Mackie Weisz
Camilo Castagnola
Lorenzo Chavanne
Each player had a clear role in the structure of the team. Curtis Pilot brought leadership and composure, while Mackie Weisz contributed in difficult physical circumstances, playing with a broken left hand securely wrapped. Camilo Castagnola added pace, stretch and finishing power, and Lorenzo Chavanne delivered one of the most complete performances of the day.
On the other side, La Dolfina Scone lined up with:
David Paradice
Rufi Merlos
Jesse Bray
Poroto Cambiaso
It was a final between two teams that had arrived with the strongest offensive numbers in the tournament, which made the defensive adjustment from Pilot in the second half even more significant.
Lorenzo Chavanne’s breakthrough performance
One of the biggest stories of the final was the performance of Lorenzo Chavanne. At just 18 years old, the Argentine produced a major display, finishing with seven goals and earning Most Valuable Player. His influence grew as the match went on, and he became central to Pilot’s comeback.
His horse Tyson, which he played three times during the final, was named Best Playing Pony, while another of his horses, Open Texas, received the Argentine Best Playing Pony distinction. For Chavanne, it was a major moment in his young career and an important performance on one of the biggest stages of the Wellington season.
Camilo Castagnola’s role in the comeback
Camilo Castagnola was again one of the defining players in the final. His movement and ability to open the field became increasingly important once Pilot found its rhythm. As the game stretched and the attack became more fluid, Camilo had more freedom to influence the match and help shift control back to his team.
That change was also noticed from within the team itself. When Pilot adjusted and Camilo started finding more space, the entire shape of the game changed. His presence gave the team depth and helped create the conditions for the second-half comeback.
For followers of La Natividad, this was another strong chapter in an international season that continues to underline Camilo’s importance in high goal polo. It also reinforces the level of the Castagnola family within the international circuit, where names like Camilo, Barto and Lolo remain tied to the highest standards of the game.
The fourth chukker that changed everything
If there was one moment that defined the final, it was the fourth chukker. Mackie Weisz scored early, and then Lorenzo Chavanne added back-to-back goals to tie the match at 5-5. From there, the momentum shifted decisively.
Pilot took the lead for the first time in the fifth chukker on a Weisz goal assisted by Chavanne, and from that point on they never trailed again. They entered the sixth chukker up 8-5 and closed the game with control.
An undefeated Gold Cup title
With the win, Pilot finished the USPA Gold Cup undefeated with a 6-0 record. It was the team’s third Gold Cup title and another important result in the Gauntlet of Polo. Curtis Pilot also received the tournament’s Sportsmanship Award, while the team collected the prize money for winning the second leg of the series.
More than just the trophy, the result confirmed how complete Pilot had become by the end of the tournament. After a difficult first half in the final, they responded with intelligence, patience and a much stronger second half.
Wellington keeps setting the pace
The USPA Gold Cup remains one of the defining tournaments of the season in Wellington, and this final reflected the level of polo being played there. For Camilo Castagnola, winning the title with Pilot adds another major result to his international season and keeps the focus firmly on the next step in the calendar.
For La Natividad followers, it is also another reminder of how present the team’s players and values remain across the world’s leading tournaments. Whether in Argentina or the United States, the same level of competition, discipline and ambition continues to appear.
