By Rey Joble

BEEFED up by one of Uruguay?s finest polo players and a prince, who honed his skills competing in Spain, the Audi Red team of businessman/sportsman Inigo Zobel ran roughshod over the Audi Gray squad, 13-8, in the annual Enrique Zobel Memorial Polo Cup yesterday at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park, Makati.

Prince Jefri Bahar of Brunei scored a 30-yard penalty shot a minute and 22 seconds into the game, while David Stirling, considered as one of the best players in the world, provided nearly half of his team?s output as Audi Red hardly felt the pinch of the handicapping system imposed during the match.

Prior to the game, both team captains agreed to give Audi Gray a plus one in the six-chukker, seven-minute encounter.

But Stirling took everyone to school with his array of shots that mesmerized the Sunday crowd, attended by personalities from both the worlds of business and politics. The Zobels were there to pitch in their full support, with Dee Zobel, widow of the late Enrique Zobel, making the ceremonial shot.

The top brass from the tournament sponsors were there, too?Audi operations director Benedicto Coyiuto and Porsche training and recruitment center head master for Asia Thorsten Hagel, as well as Manila Polo Club president Ramon Dimacali. Former presidential sons Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand ?Bong Bong? Marcos Jr. and San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito also attended the event.

On the field, Stirling shone the brightest among the stars. His first goal came in the final 30-second mark of the second chukker for a 5-3 lead by Audi Red. He had a goal each in the third and fourth periods, capped by a spectacular 60-yard conversion that gave Audi Red an 8-5 lead?and full control of the match.

Stirling?s last goal in the 4:33 mark of the fifth chukker proved to be the icing in the cake as an Audi Gray rally appeared inevitable.

?The field was not good as the ball bounced higher whenever it landed to the ground,? said Inigo Zobel, who also revealed that Prince Jefri might play again.