LAKE PLACID, N.Y.--Alex Matz of Coatesville, Pa., won his first Grand Prix, riding Cashew CR to victory in the $100,000 Grand Prix to culminate the first week of competition at the Lake Placid Horse Show.
Alex Matz on Cashw (Photo by KindMedia)Matz and Laura Chapot had been trading placing first and second places throughout the week, and in the most financially rewarding event of the show, it was Matz who came out on top over Chapot.
Matz was the first to try the 15-jump first-round course designed by Alan Wade, and he turned in the first of 11 clean rides.
The 24-year-old son of Show Jumping Hall of Famer and race horse trainer Michael Matz and Pan American Games Bronze medalist D.D. Alexander Matz then set the mark to beat when he rode clean over the eight-jump tiebreaker course with a time of 36.860 seconds.
He then watched and waited as the remaining 10 entries tried and failed to beat his time.
COMING closest was Chapot, who finished clean in 38.875 seconds on Diarado’s Flying Dutchman to take second.
“I have a fast horse who gave it his all today so I thought there was a chance that our time might hold up even with so many fast ones going after me,” Matz said. “I came into the final combination on quite a strong angle and Cashew was really good to me there. He stayed straight and gave me a big effort and I think that’s probably where I won the class.
“It really is very special with both my parents here and most of my family and this is such a special place to win. I couldn’t be any happier!”
Prior to the Grand Prix, Zayna Rizvi rode Excellent to the win in the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, a member event of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.
Rizvi turned in two clean rounds and a jump-off time of 34.280 seconds to claim the win.
Riding fifth of the six in the jump-off, Rizvi edged out Grace Debney, who had held the lead through most of the jump-off with a clean jump-off ride in 34.404 seconds on Boheme De La Roque.
“Grace’s round was amazing, and I honestly wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to catch her,” Rizvi said. “But my horse has such a huge stride and that definitely helped me out.”
Also on Sunday, Emma Covarrubias rode Emy to the win in the $5,000 Children’s Jumper Classic.
Following an off-day on Monday, the Lake Placid Horse Shows continue with the I Love New York Horse Show.
