With some of the world's best athletes speeding across a field at 35mph on horseback, hitting a ball, and frequently colliding with each other, polo is as beautiful as it is dangerous. "Speed, danger, strategy and teamwork, are all the ingredients that a sport needs to be huge," says polo’s version of Brad Pitt, Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras. The tall, dark, and handsome Argentine -- who moonlights as the face of Ralph Lauren fragrances -- will captain the Black Watch team this Saturday at the second annual Manhattan Polo Classic, sponsored by Veuve Clicquot on Governor's Island. Anglophiles take note: Also saddling up will be HRH Prince Harry, who is in town for his first official state visit. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the American Friends of Sentebale. We spoke to Figueras (who was introduced to designer Lauren by photographer Bruce Weber) about this weekend’s events, and his continued quest to popularize this traditionally blue-blood obsession.

How did the name Black Watch come about? Black Watch is a Scottish military regiment dating to the 1600s. Team patron Neil Hirsch was at the time dating Scottish model Tracy Allan, when they came across a jacket in a Ralph Lauren boutique that featured the Black Watch tartan on the underside of the collar. Hirsch had the jacket embroidered with "Black Watch Polo," and the team name was born.

What's special about Saturday's match? This is the second year of the Manhattan Classic. Last year marked the first polo match in 70 years to be played in New York City, and it will bring polo to a larger audience. We tried Central Park and there was difficulty with permits, but Governor's Island has a special quality. It is my hope that people in the city will wake up on Saturday morning, see coverage of the match in the paper, and want to spend their afternoon watching polo, instead of the usual baseball field.

So polo is an inclusive sport? Absolutely., I always like to give the example of a guy from Texas. His father works on a ranch, and he loves horses, rides every day, and there's a polo club nearby. He takes an interest, gets invited, and starts work as a groom, eventually becoming a polo player. If you have an interest and passion, there is nothing that can stop you.

But it is a sport which seems to be marked by some geographical limitations: the Hamptons, Palm Beach, etc. Yes, I was just in Miami where a match was held on the beach to generate interest in the sport. Next week, I'm heading to London to play at Hurlingham Park for the first match in 80 years. The previous field was destroyed during the war, and later converted for track and field use, so this is very exciting.

And what should we be expecting from you in the near future -- new ad campaigns? I am now be the official spokesmodel of Polo Blue and the latest men’s fragrance, Polo Modern Reserve, in addition to Polo Black. I can also be seen in a Bruce Weber-directed television commercial featuring the three fragrances marketed as "The World of Polo". There are also plans to expand the 'Black Watch' licensed apparel, which will be a great promotion for the team.