TORONTO, Canada--For Alex Matz of Cochranville, Pa., on Cashew CR, it was an emotional victory in the $90,000 Royal Winning Round on Friday evening, Nov, 14, at the CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show, a part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Alex Matz on Cashew CR (Photo by Ben Radvanyl)As he rode into the ring for the presentation, Matz announced the retirement of the 17-year-old horse that began his now very successful career that includes a number of top horses.
Throughout their nine-year partnership, Matz and Cashew CR amassed 47 international podium finishes together, including two CSI5*-W wins at last year’s Royal Horse Show.
“To have him go out on such a high note is really special; he’s a champion and he should go out with a win,” said Matz. “We decided a couple of months ago that at the end of this year, he would be retired. He’s given so much to me, the best that we can do for him is to give him a happy retirement when he’s still sound and healthy. I’m sure he would do more for us, but he doesn’t owe me anything.”
Both Matz's mother DD, who owns Cashew, and father Michael were in the crowd, cheering as Cashew CR scored his final win.
From Friday’s starting field, the 10 top returned in reverse order of standing to start with zero faults over the course set by Olaf Petersen, Jr.
CONTINUING his Royal streak of two wins and also continuing his goal of finishing in the top five in every event, Colombia’s Mark Bluman on Phelina de Septon set a blistering pace of 39.37 seconds as the penultimate rider, two seconds faster than the previous leader Rene Dittmer of Gerrmany on Echo vh Gerendal Z, who finished in 41.06..
Bluman looked uncatchable.
Matz, last to go, rode a beautifully executed, very smooth round in 36.96. an amazing three seconds faster than Bluman, who finished second with Dittmer third.
“He’s naturally much faster than almost any other horse,” said Matz. “He’s quick across the jumps as well. I think it was a combination of his athleticism and speed that gave us the time."
“Marky’s on a heck of a run right now,” said Matz. “He had a brilliant round, so I knew it would be tough to beat. Luckily, it went our way.”
“Cashew knows all my moves; he knows when I’m going to lean too much one way or the other way, and he figures it out,” he said. “It’s a credit to how smart of a horse he is.”
Cashew CR will now spend his retirement in his favorite field at the Matz’s family farm in Coatesville.
