Polo horse takes on McLaren sports car for ultimate horsepower race

A race between a glossy $700,000 sports car or an athletic polo pony has finally proven which is faster over 150m. Here’s what happened. SEE THE VIDEO

IT was horse versus horsepower at the Gold Coast Spit yesterday as local Supercars stalwart Paul Morris took on one of polo’s best for a race to the finish line.

The former V8 Supercars driver and Bathurst winner strapped in to a brand new McLaren 720S to test who would be faster — a polo pony or a sports car — in a 150m sprint.

The $700,000 McLaren nosed ahead of fellow Gold Coaster Indiana Bennetto and her trusty mare Tui, 12, but the race wasn’t easily won.

Whole lot of horsepower on show at the Spit as Australian Women's polo team member Indiana Bennetto and her horse raced against V8 Supercar legend Paul Morris in a McLaren 720S car. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I’ve raced a lot of things before but I’ve never raced a horse, I’ve never been that close to a horse in my life!” he said afterwards.

“When the horse took off I was a bit slow out of the gates and I had to really get my boot into it to catch up, the tyres on the grass don’t hook up as well as the horseshoes.

“I’d have to have my wits about me to beat her (next time).”

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The pair will have another chance to square off with a redemption race planned during McLaren Gold Coast Polo by the Sea on June 1.

The challengers will go head to head in a best out of three on the day from 2.20pm.

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V8 Supercars champ Paul Morris comes out on top … just. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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Ms Bennetto, 25, will be the first and only female player to compete at Polo by the Sea, but said she doesn’t mind taking on the blokes on the field.

“Polo is a serious contact sport so especially for a lady you have to be really gung-ho to get out there,” she said.

“It’s like rugby on horseback, it’s very competitive.

“To be invited to a day like that is incredible and to represent the other women in the game, I’m very excited.”

Ms Bennetto’s determination has already seen her represent the Australian Ladies Polo Team several times.