Alex Matz (USA) won the $200,000 USD Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto to close out the CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show on Saturday evening, November 9, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.
The win marked the third victory of the week (also winning the Strength & Speed Challenge and the Centennial Cup) for the 28-year-old who enjoyed the most successful five-star competition of his young career. Forty-seven years after his father, U.S. Olympic medalist Michael Matz, won the marquee grand prix at The Royal in 1977, his son once again added the family name to the history books.
Three-time Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster of Langley, BC, finished second in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto aboard Electrique. (Ben Radvanyi Photography)
In front of a sold-out crowd of more than 6,500 fans, five riders jumped clear in the first round over the course designed by Oscar Soberon (USA). Coming back for the all-deciding jump-off, only Alex Matz was able to produce another clear round, guiding Ikigai to a win with speed and accuracy. They crossed the timers with the only double-clear of the night in a time of 34.68 seconds.
“I’m honoured to be in this position with two incredible riders behind me and so many good riders in the field,” said Alex Matz following his first-ever five-star grand prix win. “It’s for sure the biggest win of my career.”
Ikigai joined Alex Matz’s string three years ago with high expectations.
“I probably told everybody I know how good a horse he was, but a lot of people didn’t believe me until recently,” said Alex Matz of the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Elvis Ter Putte x Iroko) owned by 5 Star Partners. “Now he has proved it.”
In front of a cheering home crowd, three-time Canadian Olympian Tiffany Foster gave it her all with a blistering fast time of 32.81 seconds. However, a heartbreak rail at the final fence left her as runner-up riding Electrique, a 10-year-old Zangersheide mare (Emerald x Voltaire) that she owns in partnership with 5 Roosters.
“I was trying to go as fast as I could, and the only part of the jump-off I watched was Alex’s turn to the last fence,” said Foster of Langley, BC. “I tried to replicate it, but I didn’t do it as well.
“This is Electrique’s first FEI World Cup™ class and her first big class indoors,” continued Foster of the horse that was originally developed by U.S. Olympic medalist Kent Farrington. “I think the world of her. She’s a real competitor. She loves to go fast and the faster you go, the faster her brain works and the faster her legs move.”
Having competed for much of her career at the Royal Horse Show, tracing back to her equitation days, Foster concluded, “I think in every rider’s opinion, this is the best indoor show in North America.”
Mclain Ward (USA), currently ranked ninth in the Longines World Rankings, placed third aboard his Paris Olympic mount, Ilex, with a four-fault finish in 34.58 seconds. The Royal marked the first international indoor event for Ilex, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Baltic VDL x Chin Chin) owned in partnership with Bonne Chance Farm.
“My first year at The Royal was in 1993 when I was 17,” recalled Ward, who is a nine-time grand prix winner at the historic show. “It’s better than ever; the family atmosphere is great, it is top sport, and an entertaining evening. It’s one of the last connections we have from the city to agriculture and the animals. I think it’s brilliant not only for farming, agriculture, and horse sports, but also for people who have never experienced that connection to be in touch with.”
In his first year acting as CEO of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Cyrus K. Cooper reveled in the success of this year’s event, saying, “I’m very pleased, not only for the incredible riders, but for the many volunteers and staff that put on this show, and we’re very thankful for our partners in the FEI and Longines. To see the athletes and beautiful animals do their absolute best in the fourth largest city in North America with an institution that has been around for 102 years is tremendous. This evening was entertainment that Toronto will never forget.”
At the conclusion of the CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show, several prestigious awards were presented. Peter Cullen of Valley Green Farm presented the Leading International Rider Award to Alex Matz, as well as the Leading Lady Rider Award to Lillie Keenan (USA). The Leading Canadian Rider title went to Foster, which earned her the Lt. Col. Stuart C. Bate Memorial Trophy from sponsor Mamiche Pathay. Incredible, owned by Ariel Grange of Lothlorien Farm in Cheltenham, ON, earned the All-Canadian Cup. The award recognizes the Leading Canadian-owned Horse in memory of lifelong horsewoman and Grange’s mother, Susan Grange.
Competition in the FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League continues at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, as the race heats up for the 2025 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Basel, Switzerland, next April.
For more information on the Royal Horse Show, visit www.royalfair.org/royalhorseshow.
Full results here.
$200,000 USD Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Rider / Nation / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Alex Matz / USA / Ikigai / 0:0 / 34.68
2. Tiffany Foster / CAN / Electrique / 0:4 / 32.81
3. Mclain Ward / USA / Ilex / 0:4 / 34.58
4. Lillie Keenan / USA / Argan de Beliard / 0:4 / 35.43
5. Mario Deslauriers / CAN / Costa Quick PS / 0:4 / 39.59
6. Kristen Vanderveen / USA / Bull Run’s Jireh / 4
7. Daniel Bluman / ISR / Gemma W / 4
8. Rene Dittmer / GER / Corsica X / 4
9. Abdel Saïd / BEL / Arpege du Ru / 4
10. Aaron Vale / USA / Gray’s Inn / 4
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