FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES APRIL 2014 19
Grant in action.
get an early start which is important if you want to be a pro.
Playing 12-goal with Juancito Bollini, Juan Badiola and Juan
Bollini was very helpful. When you play with better players you
get better eventually. I have played with these guys and against
them. We have all played together for a long time.
“The junior tournaments are better than taking a lesson because
I am learning how to be a team player and leader on the field. I
play different positions and it’s very helpful. In a lesson I just work
on hitting the ball.”
One of the biggest thrills for Grant was playing with Mike
Azzaro as a teammate and mentor along with Wes Finlayson and
Juancito Bollini for Casablanca. He’s played with several other
pros including Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan and Brandon Phillips.
During the USPA North America Cup, Grant scored a career
high eight goals, including the game-winner to lead Casablanca
to a 15-14 overtime victory against Piaget and his mother. It was
probably Grant’s finest performance of his young career.
In the championship of the North America Cup, Audi edged
Casablanca 11-10. The game pitted father against son. “It’s never
fun to win against your son, but that’s polo,” Marc Ganzi said. “I’ve
been on that other side of that equation losing to Melissa.”
“Grant’s maturation as a player has really surprised me. It’s not
just his ability to hit the ball and to ride. His field intelligence is so
far beyond his years. His ability to read the play and to anticipate
is really uncanny for a kid his age.”
Grant, the youngest player in the 20-goal Iglehart tournament,
was pleased with his play during the summer and fall. “I think I
played well,” Grant said. “It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity.
I really don’t have anything to lose, win or lose. If I play well, I play
well, but if I play poorly it’s still a great opportunity. I am playing
with great players and always learning.”
