Mike Tindall, Billy Slater and Nacho Figueras try surfing
The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall touched down in Australia early Saturday morning and as she put her feet up on the Gold Coast as husband Mike hit the early morning surf before taking part in the Magic Millions Polo.
The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall touched down in Australia early Saturday morning and as she put her feet up on the Gold Coast as husband Mike hit the early morning surf.
He was joined in the water by Rugby League legend Billy Slater and Argentinian polo star Nacho Figueras, who are also taking part in the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo today.
“That’s a great cure for jet leg, I can really recommend it,” said former English rugby captain Tindall, who was skiing with his wife and two daughters in Switzerland just two days ago.
“I’ve only surfed once before and I was so bad at it that I never went back but I even managed to stand up this time.”
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Meanwhile the competitive banter between retired Melbourne Storm and Queensland State of Origin captain Slater and polo sensation Figueras was hotting up before they hit the water.
Figueras, who will be the star at the polo today, confessed he had only ever had one surf lesson.
Slater also tried to downplay any expectation. “Ah look, I’ve paddled out once or twice,” he said.
His wife Nicole scoffed at that one. “He’s got 10 boards in the garage,” she said.
Figueras eyed him sagely. “Either he’s a very good surfer of he’s a shopaholic.”
It turned out he is a very good surfer. Coach Cheyne Horan, former world champion, said: “Billy Slater is a great surfer, he even did a lovely little shuffle on the board. Great footwork.
“But they are all natural athletes and it shows. The big fella, Tindall, he did really well because he has never done it before.”
The surfing was a friendly warm-up to the main event today when more than 3000 people are expected to attend the third Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo day at Doug Jennings Park on The Gold Coast.
The first of three polo matches will feature some of the best players in Australia, then a professionals match will pit Zara Tindall against Figueras and finally a celebrity match will see Slater and wife Nicole play against a team of jockeys captained by Winx’s regular rider Hugh Bowman.
Magic Millions co-owner Katie Page said the polo was the perfect curtain raiser to the carnival week, which attracts some of the biggest names and wallets in horse racing in the world to the annual yearling sales.
“We always wanted something on the Sunday to make the week longer so that you have got 10 days of events,” she said. “It is going so well that in the future we will be discussing how we are going to get all the people in.”
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival kicks off with the polo today. Saturday’s $10 million race day has its curtain raiser on Tuesday with jockeys and horses riding through the surf ahead of the barrier draw. The yearling sales start on Wednesday and are expected to sell more than $170 million worth of thoroughbred racehorses.
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