Matz & Cashew CR Dominate Hermès 1.50m Finale

In a pulse-pounding finish, Alex Matz of the United States and his trusty 17-year-old Holsteiner Cashew CR earned top honors in the $150,000 Hermès CSI4* 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final on Saturday night, during Week 11 of the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International. Outpacing a formidable 15-horse jump-off by fewer than four-tenths of a second, Matz stopped the clock at 35.31 seconds, edging out Ireland’s Jordan Coyle on For Gold (35.68). Egypt’s Nayel Nassar completed the podium in 36.15 aboard Igor van de Wittemoere.

This culminating Hermès 1.50m event welcomed 50 qualified entries, all riding courses crafted by Andy Christiansen. Throughout 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, fans have seen the best of international show jumping. However, it was Matz who rose to the occasion, piloting Cashew CR, owned by his mother Dorothy A. Matz, to a winning result. Matz was destined for success, being the son of 1996 U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Michael Matz.

Meanwhile, fellow American Spencer Smith secured the overall Hermès 1.50m Championship Jumper Series title for his consistent performances across the circuit. With Saturday’s victory in the books, Matz and Cashew CR added one more shining moment to an already action-packed WEF season.