Hilario Ulloa has had a spectacular year: after reaching the final of the Argentine Open with Fred Mannix's Alegría (which they conceded to La Dolfina 16-11) he then triumphed in the 2014 Maserati U.S. Open with Julian Mannix's Alegría, scoring the final goal on a 40-yard penalty in overtime to win 11-10 over Valiente. To crown the day, Hilario's Mia received the Best Playing Pony award, and in June, Hilario was voted World Polo Tour's Most Valuable Player.

The Argentine 9-goaler is perhaps one of the most exciting players in the game today, combining athleticism with real flair on the field. Hilario famously broke the head off his stick during the semi finals of the British Open in 2011, calmly reversed the mallet and hit the ball through the goal with the handle. For all his talent, the softly spoken 29- year-old never intended to become a professional polo player, but is surprised and delighted at his luck. Polo Players' Edition spoke exclusively to Hilario in the Hamptons earlier this year.

How did you get started in polo?

My father Carlos "Polito" Ulloa is a one of the most renowned horse breakers and trainers in Argentina [see Polotics, May 2014 issue] and he works for many high-goal players by "starting off" their best horses, so my brother Salvador and I were practically born on horseback. Even as I child I always felt very passionate about horses.

At the age of 6, I started to play polo when one of my father's patrons very kindly brought us some short polo mallets to use and that's how we got hooked! When we got a bit older, we started to take the sport more seriously, got more involved and started to go to Buenos Aires to play in the Copa Potrillitos.

I never really had the aim of becoming a professional polo player. it seemed something of a pipe dream. I just loved working with the horses and enjoyed playing, but little by little I started getting better at it. In 2010, I played in the Argentine Open for the Chapa Uno team and was raised to 9 goals. I never thought that I would get to where I am now, playing with Alegría and building my own string of great ponies. So to my surprise, the dream came true.

How is your polo operation structured?

My schedule is dictated by my highgoal playing commitments, so I travel a lot of the year. This year I have been in the United States for the Maserati Open and then New England where I played in Connecticut, and the Hamptons. It is great to play for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm. It is such a fantastic organization. They have an amazing facility and the season here is both very competitive and a lot of fun.

My ambition has always been to have my own polo facility and it is something else that I am lucky to have achieved. My farm is called La Hache and is located near Pilar on about 20 hectares (50 acres). At the moment we have two barns of 18 stalls each and a polo field, but my goal is to develop the facility to include two polo fields, a stick-and-ball field and additional barns.

At La Hache we work all year round, from preparing the high-goal horses for tournaments or to sell, and also for bringing on the young horses for the future. I have an ambitious breeding program with my dad, so La Hache is where our home-produced stock are broken and trained.

At the beginning of my career, my dad helped me a lot by buying Thoroughbreds off the racetrack and retraining them for polo. We then started to build our string by using embryos from the best mares as foundation stock. Now, most of my horses are homebred, but I believe that to play the Open and be well mounted, I need to combine breeding with buying top quality horses that are already playing and even keep buying additional Thoroughbreds. The sport is so competitive now that you must get horses from everywhere in order to have the best.

What is your opinion on cloning?

I think cloning improves the chances of a horse being good because it has the same genetics as a top horse, but genetics are not the full story. So much depends on the way in which the horses are broken and trained, so the nurture element of human interaction plays a huge part. Humans still make the horse!

You have had an amazing year, reaching the Final of the Argentine Open and then scoring the winning goal in the U.S. Open. What helped you be so successful this year?

I think that it is the result of working hard to improve my horse-power and training to continually improve my polo game, all with the support of my family and our team staff. And of course I was incredibly lucky to be part of two great Alegría teams. You can do everything right but if you don't have the right team, great things won't happen. Both Alegría teams (in Argentina and USA) were great and with a fantastic chemistry between the players. I would like to thank the Mannix family for letting me be part of their great polo operation!

In September you started the Argentina Triple Crown with Alegría, the same line-up of team members as last year. How did your prepare for the season?

We know last year we performed really well and created a strong team identity. We have established our way of playing—a system—and that is essential to have within the team. So, I believe that the best way to improve is to constantly improve our horse power. This has been the objective in preparing for this season, because if we play to the same level as last year and are well mounted, I think that we have a good chance of winning.

In addition to working to improve my game and horses, I also train all year round with Juan Tedesco, who developed a special fitness program for me. I like to ride, so he combines that with other exercises to keep me agile and flexible. He is a fantastic trainer and a great person. In the states I train a lot with Norberto Imas, the trainer for both Alegría and White Birch.

Fred Mannix describes you as being as relentless as a pit bull. How would you describe your teammates for this year's Argentine season?

We have found our team system and have great chemistry both off and on the field. Freddy [Mannix] started to play as Back last season and has turned into a brick wall in defense. He gives us a lot of confidence, hitting long balls and solid backhanders. Lucas [Monteverde] is a great team captain with a lot of experience. He gets the best out of all of us and creates positive energy inside the team. And to win, I think you need to have a real rock star, like Cambiaso, Facu Pieres or Messi in football, and I think we have found that in Polito [Pieres]. He is really on top of his game now. He has all the confidence in the world and he can make us win a tournament.

Who has been the biggest influence on your polo career?

First, of course, is my dad. He taught me so much about horsemanship and helped me to find and make good horses. Most of all, he taught me that without working hard, it is impossible to be successful.

I admire many players, such as Adolfo Cambiaso for the way he plays and how focused he is on finding top horses. La Dolfina always has an incredible string. However, the person I most admire for all what he has achieved in polo is Gonzalo Pieres Sr. It is amazing to see his successes in the sport and what he has done in creating Ellerstina. I think that they are simply the best polo organization in the world.

Which is the most interesting or unusual place you have played polo, and are there any countries where you would like to play?

Unfortunately, I haven't really had the opportunity to play in many exotic locations yet! I would love to visit New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, both to play and also to look at buying some good horses. I just have to find the time! I would really enjoy the opportunity of playing and visiting China one day. Its potential for polo is amazing.

You travel for most of the year and just got married. How does Clarita like the constant traveling?

Clarita and I got married in December last year, in the short break between the Argentine Open and the Palm Beach season. We started dating in January of 2008 and have been inseparable ever since. She travels with me everywhere, together with our baby daughter Lavinia and our two dogs, Kenya and Zambia. They are my family and my support. She loves traveling and has many friends in the polo world, so we have a great time together.

Polo is not just a job, it is a way of life for us and I never get bored. I spend most of my time in the stables with my horses or training with my teammates. When I am not with the horses, I love watching football and playing PlayStation. We are just really happy to stay at home and spend time with Lavinia.

What are your future ambitions?

As with every polo player in the entire world, my ultimate goal is to win the Argentine Open. Other than that, I hope to develop La Hache into a very successful breeding operation. But, the most important thing of all is to have a great, happy and tranquil family life.

By Tracey Sheeran