No fast cars and fast women?
I prefer horses. Why drive a fast car when you can ride a horse?

When did you discover your passion for polo?
I grew up on a farm in Argentina and my father encouraged me to start playing when I was 9. I always knew that I wanted to do some kind of sport. I also enjoyed tennis and football, but I soon decided that polo was the thing that I loved the most. I am passionate about horses.

In Britain, polo is seen as a sport for the very rich. So did you have four horses before you could walk?
No. It actually helps if, like me, you aren’t a rich kid, so you feel you have to fight to succeed. My father’s best friend’s family played polo, so I started with them. Once you reach a certain level, polo can be expensive. But it is not just about big hats, high heels and champagne.

All that mallet-swinging; is it pretty aggressive?
It is a risky sport because of the speed you are going at. I would compare it to Formula One racing. It is unlikely that you are going to get hurt by someone else, but if you fall it can be fatal.

Ever taken a tumble?
Often. I have broken my nose twice. I have had stitches in my face, I have broken my collar bone, hand and ankle.

And you’re still in the saddle?
Yes. You just stand up, clean up and get back on the horse.

You sound pretty macho, Nacho.
I wouldn’t say I am macho. But I love the sport too much to be scared.

How do you treat your cuts and bruises?
I use the normal procedures, nothing weird. Rehabilitation is the most important thing. So once a plaster-cast comes off, I start working with a physiotherapist and doing exercises so that I can recover as quickly as possible.

Do you have a taste for anything alternative?
I take arnica regularly for bruises and I have a massage every once in a while. Playing polo is hard on your back, so your muscles can get tight.

When you broke your nose, were you worried that your catwalk days were over?
No, because I don’t consider myself a model. Ralph Lauren chose me to represent his brand because of my personality and the fact that I am a professional polo player, not because of my face.

Come on, you are hardly the Elephant Man.
I don’t think my face is such a big issue. If my nose doesn’t stay pointing to the front, I don’t care. I am a polo player. What matters is scoring goals and winning matches.

You’re the wash’n’go type?
I want to look good, but from the inside, as a person.

Ever worry that you can pinch more than an inch?
I don’t follow a strict diet. Once in a while I’ll sit in front of the TV and eat a kilo of chocolate ice cream.

So you’re not under pressure to be thin?
Not at all. My concern is about how fit I am.

Ever pump iron?
I go to the gym occasionally, and I jog and stretch. But for a polo player, the most important exercise is simply to play polo. I do that most days.

Ever say a prayer before you climb in the saddle?
No, but I am a Catholic. I do believe in God.

Any vices?
My kids are my vice.

Children don’t count.
Well, I like to drink the spirit Fernet Branca, which I have with Coke and ice. But I play polo every day, so I try not to do that very much.

Does the high life ever get you down?
No. I am a positive person. My father always told me: “Never put your arms down.”

Qué?
Basically, I try to put the bad things behind me and just look forward to the next day. Fairy godmother, please change . . . Nothing. I am comfortable with myself.

What’s next?
My goal in life is to make my sport more popular. I want to be the Bernie Eccleston of polo, and I think that I will. If you want to reach the sky, you have to shoot for the stars. That’s where I’m shooting.

Polo Black, by Ralph Lauren, £33 for 75ml, is available from Boots and department stores nationwide

Times recommends

• How to solve the big style questions
• Aids in Africa: ‘It is the staff who really inspire you’
• Video: How to do Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' dance