Celebrity Cruises® Hosts Exclusive Pre-Polo Party for First Unveiling of Polo Gear USA Sunset Polo Jerseys & Everything Equestrian Best Playing Pony Blanket
WELLINGTON, Fla. – MARCH 11, 2020 – Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo® & White Party returns to the Wanderers Club on March 20 with its annual exhibition polo game as the highlight of the evening’s festivities. Three teams are set to compete in the six-chukker round robin tournament composed of three two-chukker games. GJ Racing captured the win in 2019, and will return to defend its title for the 2020 event. The sunset polo game kicks off at 6:15 p.m. after the singing of the National Anthem by Kayden Muller-Janssen, the 17-year-old R&B, soul and pop artist with two debut singles, Walk and Kiss Kiss. Guests will have the opportunity to shuttle from the White Party to the polo field where they can sip on one of the two signature drinks, sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Don Sueños Tequila, and enjoy the Peeps Foundation adoptable miniature horses wearing Brooke USA blankets.
For GJ Racing sponsor Gill Johnston, a longtime sponsor of teams, youth tournaments and the Polo Training Foundation, she is thrilled to return to Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo® tournament for the chance to face-off for the winning title for the second year, a feat which has yet to be done. The team for the 2020 event is comprised of returning player Justin Daniels (2), Gaston Lisoli (4), Mitch Adelstein (-1) and Petra Sabotova (-1).
Team Invicta will return to the field for its second year, hoping to claim the winning title, which was just out of reach with their previous second place finish. Tom Mac Guinness (0), Hugo Lloret (5), Alyssa Braswell (-1) and Dawn Jones (1) will play for team sponsor, Lisa Bair.
The Celebrity Cruises® Polo Team will have its first chance to play in the tournament, with Tareq Salahi leading the team alongside former 8-goal player John Gobin (4), Pedro Falabella (3) and Christina Parr (-2).
Celebrity Cruises® not only joins the fifth year event as a team sponsor, but also stepped forward to host the first Polo Kick-off Party at the home of Salahi and his wife, Lisa Spoden in Delray Beach on March 5. The event had over 125 guests in attendance, and offered the opportunity for the first time in the history of the Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo® & White Party to unveil the team jerseys designed and produced by Polo Gear USA, as well as the Best Playing Pony blanket designed by Everything Equestrian.
The jerseys sport a one-of-a-kind geometric and 3-D design, flaunting bold colors for the teams, which have never before graced the Wellington polo scene. Gary Fellers and Jeanette Sassoon of Polo Gear have been steadfast supporters of Brooke USA and the event since its inception in 2016, and their creativity for the fifth year was met with resounding applause as each team sponsor donned them for the pre-event unveiling.
Nic Roldan, who first conceptualized the event alongside Honorary Chair Katherine Kaneb, was onsite for the party to unveil GJ Racing’s jersey. He also announced that he is returning to Brooke USA as a polo ambassador in 2020, and will be at the Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo® & White Party not only in his role as ambassador, but also to select the Best Playing Pony.
Last year, the honor of choosing the Best Playing Pony went to Julio Arellano, longtime Coca-Cola player and father of Brooke USA ambassador Hope Arellano. Roldan looks forward to having the honor on March 20, and will present the sublimated blanket with an exclusive design by Everything Equestrian to the honoree during the awards. The blanket was also unveiled during the Celebrity Cruises® party, along with the game balls, which sport the Everything Equestrian and Celebrity Cruises® logos.
Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo® is coordinated by Gates Gridley of the International Polo School, which provided horses for the game, as well as arranged for the riders to play in Brooke USA’s pivotal charity match.
Look no further than Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo® & White Party for an entertaining evening highlighted by an exciting sporting event, a delicious traditional paella, DJ Adam Lipson, dancing and fun for the entire family.
A limited number of tickets and tables to the Lugano Diamonds Touch of Orange Dinner are still available. Guests will enjoy an added air of luxury on the VIP Veranda with one-of-a-kind pieces by Lugano Diamonds on display. The veranda also boasts the best view of the party, five-star cuisine designed by celebrity chef Ingrid Hoffmann and an open bar. Lugano Diamonds Touch of Orange Dinner table hosts will also receive an exclusive gift from Lugano, to thank them for their support of Brooke USA on behalf of working equines worldwide.
Tickets are now available to the Brooke USA’s Sunset Polo® & White Party at BrookeUSAEvents.org. If you would like to purchase a raffle ticket, they are available through EventBrite or by emailing Events@BrookeUSA.org.
All polo party photos © Dariyal Photography. Full gallery available here.
