The road to the final of the Palermo Open 2025 went through two weather extremes: first, the rain that forced the semi-finals to be held from Saturday-Sunday to Wednesday-Thursday, and then the stifling heat of more than 30 degrees, which will make the horses’ recovery more difficult. With only three days between match and match, L Ellerstina Chapalyovo Indians And just one more to Cradle-La Dolphinathe four organizations forming two teams will reach the induction in an unusual and demanding scenario.
Gonzalo Perezdelighted with a new opportunity to win the Open Championship – which has not reached the definition since 2020 –, noted Nation On to the short gap between the semi-final and the decider, after playing in the sweltering sun and sweltering heat in the 13-12 win over La Irenita La Hache: “I’ve never had a final so close.”; There with one more day, yes. Today was a very hot day; I hope the horses recover well. Tomorrow (this Friday) we’ll have to be on top of them and see what we put together on Saturday or Sunday morning, however “Our period is too short.”
In addition, the number 3 of Ellerstina Indios Chapaliovo, winner of the Palermo Grand Prix on three occasions, detailed the routine with which they will try to speed up the riders’ recovery: “Everything that can be done has been done: Fridge, swimming pool, plenty of barn to relax in, “I hope these days are not too hot so they can recover better.” Antonio HiguiFor her part, she also expressed concern about the condition of the horses, but JTrust that it is not an urgent situation: “I don’t know how they’ll get there really. We’re a little bit close to the final from Thursday to Sunday, but the horses are fine. I think they will do well.”
Seeing through the experience his father gave him, proud and happy, Pepe Higui, four-time Palermo champion with Indios Czabaliovo II: “It’s very difficult! The best thing would be to have a whole week between matches, but that’s no excuse. Both teams are in very good shape.; Some are a little tiring, but you get there fine. The team that has four days is able to do the exercise. Our team, which has three, will give a small presentation the day before and go to the field as it is.
After the victory over Emirates Polo with a score of 16-14, which was achieved in the last minutes with two goals from Gaeta Castagnola, his cousin Boruto Cambiasso also spoke about the topic of horses and lack of time. “We first have to recover our horses well, because the semi-final match was intense and hot. There are things to improve, we will watch the video and continue training in Canuelas, focusing on preparing for the final.
Gonzalo di CirceoPetissero Guillermo Cassette For 10 years, he described the process after the match held on Thursday, at 2:00 p.m., the most crucial time, on Pitch 2, between La Ensenada and La Dolfina 2: “The heat was very intense. Recovery is essential for the horses, which requires good nutrition, care, lowering the heart rate by walking them, and taking care of the horses one by one when returning to the stable.” On this occasion, the strategy was to alternate more: “Today we changed horses more often, shorter turns and more turns.”
The heat inevitably brought about the most extreme final that Palermo can remember: the final of 3 December 1988when La Espadanía beat Indios Chabaleojo 16-15, in a classic match at that time and almost under 40 degrees. Ernesto Trotz mentioned it, some time ago, in an article in the newspaper Los Angeles Nacion: “I estimate the temperature was about 45 degrees inside the field. I saw horses that were getting dizzy as they walked, and would turn sideways. You couldn’t find air, and your shoes were sweating. I once put my head in the fridge where we had drinks to see if he would react! It was the closest thing I’ve ever had to playing in the heat of Malaysia.” This final left a very heavy blow: La Ferrari, the mare that Gonzalo Pérez had lent to Carlos Gracida, did not fight back, and went into cardiac arrest. Others, like Horacito Higuey’s Marseilles and Gonzalo Pérez’s Luna, played three chuca, at times when the horses competed, unless injured, for 7 minutes.
In the run-up to the new final at La Catedral, more than three decades later, the concern remains the same: protecting the horses in the harsh conditions and recovering them for the final in which fortunately there will be about 25 degrees. Ellerstina Chapaliovo and La Natividad-La Dolfina will reach the final of the four organizations well enough, although they will not consider that an excuse, let alone a disappointment. There will be special care in these few days, rest, adequate nutrition, and vitamin complexes. And those who eat well the day before and wake up perfectly fine on Sunday, to Palermo! The most important final on the planet awaits them.