UPPERVILLE, Va.,--Alex Matz on Cashew CR won the $31,500 FEI 4* Upperville Power & Speed Stakes, finishing first by a half second in a class of 40.
Alex Matz on Cashew CR (Photo by Erin Gillmore)In a two-phase class, riders go first in the “power” phase, where a clear round immediately advances them to the “speed” phase.
Matz finished clean in 28.63 seconds to beat Egypt’s Nayal Nassar on Dorado de Riverland, second in 29.12, and Chloe Reid on Chelsea 179 finished third, clean in 29.65.
“My horse is so fast over the fences and across the ground,” said Matz of Coatesville, Pa. “We probably did the same number of strides as our competitors, maybe even more, but his natural speed is what made the difference.”
At 17-years-old, Cashew CR is a veteran of the sport and Matz is grateful for the Holsteiner’s zest for jumping and competing.
“He honestly loves to jump, and I think that’s the secret to his longevity. You’ll see that he’s calm in the warmup, but as soon as we go in the ring, he is a different sort of competitor,” said Matz of the 17-year-old Cashew. “It’s a credit to Cashew’s mentality and I’m lucky to have him. I will continue to show him as long as he’s happy.”
AS CHILDREN of Michael and Dorothy “DD” Matz, Alex and his two siblings Lucy and Robert are a part of a strong show jumping family.
Michael achieved tremendous international success aboard horses such as Jet Run and Rhum IV before transitioning to training racehorses, including G1 winners Barbaro and Union Rags.
DD Matz is also an accomplished equestrian, as a Pan Am medalist with success in Amateur Owner and Grand Prix classes, and has she has bred winning race horses.
The Matz family has been coming to Upperville “since before I can remember,” Matz said. “My dad jumped here and won the Grand Prix several times. He and my mom help me at home all the time. My mom rides Cashew most days at home, which is a credit to her; preparing him for me to jump and compete. Both my parents have influenced me greatly.”
