Alex Matz and Cashew Win $150,000 Hermès Final

Twelve weeks of Hermès 1.50m competition came to a peak on Saturday evening in the $150,000 Hermès CSI4* 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final during the penultimate week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Wellington International. From a field bursting with international talent, Alex Matz (USA) sealed the deal with longtime partner Cashew CR from a 15-horse jump-off with less than a half a second to spare. After a season of consistent placings, fellow American, Spencer Smith, claimed the Hermès 1.50m Championship Jumper Series overall title.

Fifty qualified entries moved forward to the Hermès Final during the KASK sponsored WEF 11 over courses designed by Andy Christiansen (ECU). Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, FL.

Matz and Cashew CR, a 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Cassini II x Quinar Z) owned by his mother, Dorothy A. Matz, raced down the last line of the short course to pip Ireland’s Jordan Coyle riding For Gold, owned by Falkirk Farm. Matz stopped the clock at 35.31 seconds to Coyle’s 35.68. Nayel Nassar (EGY) claimed third aboard Igor van de Wittemoere in 36.15 seconds.

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Alex Matz, son of 1996 U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Micheal Matz, says every class on Cashew CR is a blessing.

“He is such a competitor and shows up at the biggest moments; he loves competing at night in front of a crowd,” said Alex. “It’s a testament primarily to him, but also to the team behind me that has him in such good shape.

“I saw Jordan Coyle go—he had a great round—and Nayel was behind me, but I knew that Cashew naturally has ground speed,” continued Matz, 28. “If I rode my plan, I knew I had a chance, and it played out.”

Cashew CR’s groom, Caesar Gonzalez, was presented with the $500 Grooms Award by Double H Farm for his care and preparation of the horse for the evening’s final.

For the overall Hermès 1.50m title, Smith was awarded a $10,000 Hermès store credit after most recently finishing atop the podium in third during the WEF 10 edition of the Hermès 1.50m Classic riding Tulara Colmine.

“Hermès is a great supporter of the sport and I’m very happy to be here,” said Smith, who piloted several horses throughout the WEF season thanks to support from owners that include his family’s Ashland Farms, Donald Stewart, Georgina Bloomberg and Dennis Sisco. “Twelve weeks is a lot of jumping and to be in it every week with a few big results is tough, so it’s great to be consistent. The level [at WEF] was really elevated this season with amazing riders. It gets better and better every year, and this year we had most of the top 10 in the world.

“Alex is one of my best friends and I’m really happy to see him win the final tonight,” concluded Smith.

Complete results from the $150,000 Hermès CSI4* 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final can be found HERE.