TORONTO,Canada--Alex Matz on Ikigai won the $200,000 FEI Jumping World Cup Toronto, a qualifier for the Finals, on Saturday evening, Nov. 9  to close  the CSI5*-W Royal Horse Show, a part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair..

Alex Matz on Iikigai (Photo by Shelley Higgins, MacMillan Photography)
The win was the third of the week for the 28-year-old who had the most successful five star competition of his young career, and it came 47 years after his father, U.S. Olympic medalist Michael Matz, won the grand prix at The Royal in 1977.

In front of a sold-out crowd of more than 6,500 fans, five riders went clean in the first round over the course designed by Oscar Soberon

In the jump-off, Matz was the only one to go clean again, finishing in 34.68 seconds.

Canadian Tiffany Foster on Electrique was second with four faults in 32.81, McLain Ward on Ilex was third with four faults in 34.59, Lille Keenan on Argan DeBeliard was fourth with four faults in 35,43, and Mario Deslauriers finished fifth with four faults in 39.5.

"I don't think it's sunk in yet,"said Matz following his first five star win.." I'm really proud of my horse and proud of my team. So many people have helped me. I'm really honored to be in this position with two incredible riders behind me and so many good riders in the field. It’s for sure the biggest win of my career.”

 

"I KNEW I had to give it my all," Matz said. I had really fast riders behind me. Sometimes I try to go too fast and make mistakes, so I didn't want to do that. My horse is in great form, and fortunately everything stayed up."

Alex Matz on Ikigai (Photo by Selley Higgins, MacMillan Photography)
“I probably told everybody I know how good a horse he was, but a lot of people didn’t believe me until recently,” said Matz. “Now he has proved it.”

Matz has ridden the 11-year-old Ikigai for more than three years, acquiring the chestnut stallion from his former employer, Jos Lansink of Belgium.

"I went to Jos, because he said he had quite a special horse, and I didn't really believe him," Matz satd. "Then I sat on him, and it was like nothing I'd ever sat on."

An injury in the spring of 2023 sent Ikigai to the sidelines for nearly a year. but this fall Matz and Ikigai have had their biggest and most consistent results yet.

In front of a cheering home crowd, three-time Canadian Olympian Foster on Electrique, last to go, finished in the fast time of 32.81 seconds, but she had the last fence down to finish second.

“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. “I tried to replicate it, but I didn’t do it as well.

Left to right, course designer Oscar Soberon, Tiffany Foster, Alex Matz, McLain Ward and Winter Fair CEO Cyrus Cooper (Photo by Kim MacMillan)
“This is Electrique’s first World Cup class and her first big class indoors,” said 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.”

Ward, ranked ninth in the World Rankings, was third on his Paris Olympic mount, Ilex, with  four faults in 34.58 seconds.

Ward turned tight and angled the second fence, and a light touch dropped the rail for four faults.

"This is actually Ilex's first international indoor show. I'm very happy that he handled it well," Ward said. "He's not the fastest horse, so I knew I had to take some risks. I thought that was a place that I could do it, and I maybe over-sliced it."

Ward has said that he kept changing the bit on Ilex before Paris, and that is now continuing..

"I changed the bit tonight before the jump off,"said Ward. "I tried a little more bridle a few weeks ago, and it seemed to work well outside. And then, I thought the first round tonight, it didn't feel very good to be honest.

"It felt like it was too much, and I was a bit bit grumpy when I came out, even with a clear round, because it wasn't the way I wanted. And so we went back to the other bridle.

"He's a funny horse, he's got a lot of energy" said Ward. "He's bold, but he's careful, and he's got a great brave character. So, it's probably always going to be a bit of a work in progress."

“My first year at The Royal was in 1993 when I was 17,” said Ward, who has won the grand prix nine times 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.”

So great to be here and a great event for families as well," said Ward. "I remember Lily coming here when she was tiny. We brought both of our girls here. But this weekend she had a birthday party. That was sounded like a better offer than hanging out with Dad at the horse show.

Matz was the Leading International Rider, and Lillie Keenan was the Leading Lady Rider.

Competition in the FEI Jumping World Cup North American League continues at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., as the race heats up for the 2025 FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland, next April.

Defending champion Daniel Bluman of Israell finished seventh with Gemma W but took over the lead in the North American League standings with 37 points.

Kristen Vanderveen is second with 35 points, followed by Kent Farrington with 30 points.