We finally got onto the SEA Games polo field, playing Thailand yesterday in our first match, and their second. Their confidence was high as they had beaten Philippines in their first game on Thursday. The homeys got off to a good start when they scored the first goal of our game. Thailand gave away a few too many fouls though, and it was the penalties that cost them. Once we got to 3-2 in the second chukka, Singapore were always in control, eventually winning 7-5.

It was a tough match, and I have the bruises to show for it. There was quite a bit of elbowing, and I got hit harder than necessary quite a few times. I also got hit hard behind the saddle in the 3rd chukka, and while it turned my horse, it was the aggressor who hit the deck. Too bad for him.

Perhaps they needed to be rough, as we seemed to have the horsepower to handle them. In a horse race, we always came out on top. Watching them on Thursday we had not rated their horses. We were correct in that assessment. Our horsepower may not be as good at the Malaysians but it was certainly better than Thailand’s. That was one of the surprises of the tournament, that Thailand wasn’t better mounted.

My horses on Cool Performer are going really well. I played Brook and Nata against Thailand, and both had very good chukkas, playing hard all the way through them. Nata was very quick, and I broke away from them quite easily when I hd the chances. Brook is a real warrior. What a horse. At 15 she must be one of the oldest ponies in these games, yet she gave me a monstrous chukka. She was actually too strong, and I know she will play even better for me as the tournament goes on. I’ve had a few problems with Mia taking a hard knock last Sunday, and I am worried about Djakarta’s near fore. Trinity has calmed down considerably on Cool Performer, and I got half a chukka out of her against Thailand.

Malaysia stick and balled to an 11 - 1 1/2 win over poor Philippines in the second match yesterday. The gulf in horsepower was too much to bear. Philippines had been given half a goal on handicap, and with a lead of 10 - 1/2, Malaysia was almost helping Philippines to score a goal. Antonio Veloso finally got one in the final chukka.

The Filipinos are all very decent players. If only they had brought their own horses they might have had a chance, but by leasing horses from Thailand they killed any chance they might have had of fighting for a medal in this tournament.
Singapore’s next match is on Sunday against Indonesia. We are no illusions - Indonesia may be the new boys to polo but it will be another tough match. Malaysia plays Thailand in the 2nd match. These two games are very important for teams with medal aspirations.

No rest for the wicked, as they say.