Camilo "Jeta" Castagnola Leads Ayala Polo Team to Glory in the Gluf by Bionesta Bronze Cup 2026
The Spanish polo season is officially underway, and it has already produced one of its biggest stories.
On 1 August 2026, Ayala Polo Team claimed the Gluf by Bionesta Bronze Cup, the opening tournament of the 55th International Polo Tournament Sotogrande, after defeating Dos Lunas IQ 13-8 at Ayala Polo Club's Los Pinos grounds.
At the centre of the victory stood Camilo "Jeta" Castagnola, whose outstanding performance earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and reaffirmed his status as one of the world's leading polo players.
The Tournament That Opens Sotogrande's International Season
The Gluf by Bionesta Bronze Cup marks the official beginning of one of Europe's most prestigious polo festivals.
Every summer, Sotogrande welcomes many of the sport's finest players and organisations, launching several weeks of elite competition that attract international audiences, world-class horses and some of the strongest line-ups of the season.
Winning the Bronze Cup provides more than an early trophy—it establishes momentum for the remainder of the tournament and immediately places the champions among the favourites for the weeks ahead.
A Final That Changed After Half-Time
The championship match began with Dos Lunas IQ executing an effective defensive strategy centred on limiting Camilo Castagnola's influence.
Antonio Heguy applied constant pressure, helping Dos Lunas IQ take a narrow 6-5 lead into the second half.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically during the fourth chukker.
Despite losing team patron Iñigo Zobel through injury, with Gabriel Aguirre entering as his replacement, Ayala Polo Team responded with an outstanding 4-0 run that completely transformed the match.
From that moment onwards, Ayala controlled possession, dictated the tempo and gradually extended its advantage until securing a convincing 13-8 victory.
The progression reflected the team's growing dominance throughout the contest: 3-1, 4-3, 5-6, 9-6, 11-7 and 13-8.
Camilo Castagnola Once Again Makes the Difference
The final demonstrated why Camilo "Jeta" Castagnola continues to be recognised among the sport's elite.
After facing intense defensive pressure during the opening chukkers, he adapted his role, taking greater responsibility for organising Ayala's attacks from deeper positions before accelerating play whenever opportunities appeared.
His tactical vision and composure became decisive as the match progressed.
Castagnola finished the final with five goals, while Félix Esaín contributed four, Santiago Laborde added three and Iñigo Zobel scored once before leaving through injury.
His overall influence earned him the Most Valuable Player award, recognising another outstanding performance on one of polo's biggest European stages.
Excellence Beyond the Player
The final also celebrated the exceptional quality of the horses competing in modern polo.
Castagnola's mare Nativa Sultana received the award for Best Registered Argentine Polo Horse, highlighting the importance of breeding, horsemanship and equine development behind every successful campaign.
Elite polo is built on partnerships between horse and rider, and distinctions such as these recognise the dedication of breeders, trainers, veterinarians and grooms whose work makes high-performance competition possible.
A Strong Start to the Spanish Season
Victory in the Bronze Cup gives Ayala Polo Team the ideal platform as the International Polo Tournament Sotogrande continues.
With Camilo Castagnola leading the team and collecting MVP honours, Ayala has already established itself as one of the organisations to watch throughout the remainder of the Spanish summer.
As the competition moves forward, the world's best players will once again battle for silverware, but the opening chapter already belongs to Ayala Polo Team and one of the brightest talents of modern polo.
