Billy not kidding about need to slow polo superstar down

Winning the State of Origin could give Maroons coach Billy Slater the crucial edge he needs when he faces Argentinian superstar Nacho Figueras on the polo field next weekend.

Winning the State of Origin could give Maroons coach Billy Slater the crucial edge he needs when he faces Argentinian superstar Nacho Figueras on the polo field next weekend.

“If I have any pull in Queensland, it is for someone to put Nacho on a slow horse,” joked Slater.

“I would be happy for him to ride a donkey.”

Slater will be facing professional polo player Figueras in a team alongside the King’s niece Zara Tindall and Australian professional Ruki Baillieau at the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo and Showjumping on the Gold Coast next Sunday.

“I am just glad I have got Zara and Ruki on my team because, for some reason, I don’t think Nacho is going to go easy on us,” he said.

The day at the Doug Jennings Park will also showcase the nation’s top showjumpers after Magic Millions co-owners Katie Page and Gerry Harvey teamed up with Coolmore’s Tom Magnier and Peachester Lodge’s Linda Huddy to up last year’s $100,000 prize money to a whopping $1.45 million for 2023.

Magic Millions Ambassador Billy Slater with showjumper Olivia Hamood ahead of the polo and showjumping event next Sunday. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Top showjumper Olivia Hamood said Aussies normally had to travel to the US or Europe to compete for big pay days.

“The prize money for us is huge. It is the first time we have had this kind of prize money in Australia,” she said.

“It is a really big deal. You are going to get the best in the country coming to compete and try and take it home.”

When she competes overseas, she is normally the rider who has travelled the furthest but this time she is one of the closest, coming down for the day from her home in Kilcoy, north west of Brisbane.

“If this money means, over time, we get the top international competitors coming to Australia, that is great for us because it means we don’t have to travel so far to compete against them,” she said.

“If our riders stay in the country, it can only make our sport stronger.”

Also attending the day of equine excellence will be Interceptor heroine Elsa Pataky, wife of Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, who was announced as Magic Millions Global Showjumping Ambassador last year.

Mike and Zara Tindall. Picture: Regina King

It will be the first time international ambassadors Zara and Mike Tindall, Figueras and Delfina Blaquier have been able to attend the event on the Gold Coast since Covid struck.

The polo and showjumping kicks off a week long festival of the horse on the Gold Coast with a barrier draw and race along the beach on Tuesday before the annual yearling sales get into full swing.

For tickets go to: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=MAGICMP23