Nacho Figueras Praises Prince Harry's Work on Netflix Polo Show: 'Makes Me Want to Support Him' (Exclusive)

Nacho Figueras tells PEOPLE that he "always wanted to introduce polo to a wider audience," as Prince Harry brings the sport to Netflix queues

Prince Harry's friend Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras says the Duke of Sussex will bring the same motivated focus to his upcoming Netflix show about polo that he does to his Sentebale charity.

"When I see Prince Harry delve into Sentebale, it makes me want to support him and his other projects even more. I know he will do the same for this series," Figueras told PEOPLE exclusively before the Royal Salute Polo Challenge charity match in Florida on April 12.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, and the Argentinian polo star, 47, saddled up on opposing teams at the Grand Champions Polo Club to compete in a match benefitting Sentebale. Prince Harry co-founded the charity with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to help young people in southern Africa.

Figueras also serves as an ambassador for Sentebale and competes alongside Harry annually in the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup, the organization’s flagship fundraiser. At last week's event, cameras rolled during the equestrian event for the Netflix series about polo, which Figueras says brings a dream to life.

Related: Prince Harry 'Loves Being a Dad,' Says His Polo Pal: 'I Admire Him So Much as a Parent' (Exclusive)

"I have always wanted to introduce polo to a wider audience," says Figueras, who plays around the world, usually with his wife, Delfina Blaquier, and their four children in tow.

"Prince Harry and I have talked about polo for years. The production company is incredible, and Netflix has a huge platform to reach the biggest hearts in the world. I am happy to be involved and think this is a great opportunity for the sport," he adds.

The pro rider hinted at his excitement around Prince Harry’s Netflix project by posting a photo to his Instagram Stories on April 14. The shot showed Figueras and Harry sharing a chat while posing for photos before hitting the polo pitch over which he wrote, "Excited ited about @netflix Polo show?"

Related: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Joined by Friend Serena Williams While Filming Netflix Series at Polo Match

On April 11, the day before the Royal Salute Polo Challenge charity match, it was announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Productions had two new nonfiction series in the early stages of production at Netflix, where they signed a multiyear deal in 2020. The yet-untitled programs will highlight the individual passions of Harry and Meghan, 42, and see them serve as producers.

A press release said one show will "provide viewers unprecedented access to the world of professional polo," a longtime passion of Prince Harry’s, and the other will "celebrate the joys of cooking and gardening, entertaining and friendship," themes reminiscent of Meghan’s former lifestyle blog, The Tig. The Duchess of Sussex is set to serve as an executive producer for the lifestyle show while Prince Harry and Meghan are both serving as executive producers on the polo project.

Though Prince Harry and Meghan may appear in cameos in the polo series, they aren’t planning to star in it. The polo program was partially filmed at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge as well as during the U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington at the USPA National Polo Center.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a deal with Netflix after stepping back from their royal roles and relocating to her home state of California in 2020. Their projects for the streaming giant so far have included Harry & Meghan in December 2022 which made a splash as Netflix’s biggest documentary debut ever, 2022's Live to Lead about changemakers including Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Gloria Steinem and the docuseries Heart of Invictus about athletes preparing for Prince Harry’s Invictus Games at The Hague, released in August 2023. Last year, author Carley Fortune also confirmed that Archewell Productions hub would be adapting her romance novel Meet Me at the Lake for Netflix.

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The day after the Royal Salute Polo Challenge (where Prince Harry’s team won and Meghan presented him with the trophy — plus a kiss), the Duke of Sussex was spotted at the National Polo Center with a film crew. Prince Harry made an under-the-radar appearance in a baseball cap, t-shirt and jeans, working behind the scenes with the film crew as they captured a US Open quarterfinal match at the equestrian center on April 13.

Reflecting on his relationship with Prince Harry, who he met in 2007, Figueras tells PEOPLE that they instantly bonded over their love for horses and what they mean to the sport.

“We both love horses, polo, the thrill of competition, the speed with which the game is played, and the adrenaline," says Figueras. "We love and respect the beauty of these animals and the amazing ingredients that this sport offers. "

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