TORONTO, Canada--Alex Matz on Cashew CR won the $32,250 Strength & Speed Challenge and Aaron Vale on I.Adermie R4 won the $43,86 International Challenge on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Alex Matz on Cashew CR (Photo by Ben Radvanyl Photography)Vale went halfway through the speed class over a course set by Oscsr Soberon and finished in 52.04, taking almost two seconds off the time of the previous leader Daniel Coyle of Ireland on Farrel, who had set the time to beat of 53.65.
McLain Ward on First Lady went right after Vale and almost caught him, but he lost a split second when making a very tight turn in front of a fence and First Lady had to pause momentarily to make the turn.
Ward finished in 52.31 to eventually finish second, with Coyle third and McKayla Langmeier on Chadina fourth in 53.87.
"I showed here once before, in 1986 as a junior, and I won a class, and 38 years later, I've won again," said Vale.
In the Strength & Speed, the first competition of the CSI5*-W division, riders jumped eight fences and, if they went clean, immediately advanced to the speed portion of the course.
Taking a daring inside turn in the speed phase won the class for Matz, 28, putting him into the early lead with a time of 32.69 seconds.
Conor Swail of Ireland on Gamble was second in 33.56 seconds,,and making his Royal Horse Show debut, Germany’s Richard Vogel, currently seventh in the Longines World Rankings, placed third on Phenyo van het Keysersbos in 34.72 seconds.
“IT'S A PRIVILEGE to ride this horse,” said Matz of Cashew. “I always know that when I go in the ring, he’s going to do his best to leave the jumps up.”
“He’s always been a phenomenal horse, and our success over the last two years is a testament to him,” said Alex Matz of the horse that’s now 16 years old. “My riding has improved, but he hasn’t changed that much; I’ve given him more of an opportunity to shine. He is an incredibly strong-willed and talented horse. I don’t know why he feels so good at this age, but he does. We will keep showing as long as he is happy and loving his job.”
“This is one of my favorite horse shows because it’s so special,"said Matz. "The organization that runs the Royal does an incredible job of getting spectators out and the atmosphere is amazing.”
“You go to big shows and watch better riders to learn from them; it’s one big cycle,” he said. “Mclain Ward, Kent Farrington, Conor Swail; those are three people in the top 10 in the world. Why wouldn’t you watch and try to learn from them? It’s free!”
