Alex Matz Secures Win in $10,000 Under 25 Classic

Lexington, Ky. – July 29, 2018 – Alex Matz of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, secured the win on Cashew CR in the $10,000 Under 25 Classic to help wrap-up the final day of competition during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. The class, which saw 14 starters in the Rolex Stadium on Sunday morning, took place over a course designed by Bobby Murphy. Sydney Shulman of Greenwich, Connecticut, was second on her mare Ardente Printaniere, while Kady Abrahamson was third with Charline 28.

Matz, who has owned Cashew CR for two years, put in a tidy first round and easily made the time-allowed of 84 seconds, which proved to be a challenge for several of his peers. The 21-year-old who attends Vanderbilt University, returned for the eight horse jump-off after watching Shulman produce a clear and characteristically fast jump-off time in 34.309 seconds. Matz maintained a strong gallop throughout the short course on the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding and stopped the clock in 34.184 seconds to narrowly steal the top spot.

The second and third place finishers were occupied by athletes who also competed on Saturday evening in the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix. Shulman, who was fourth on Saturday aboard Villamoura, has had a summer that has been full of other top place finishes at venues including the Tryon International Equestrian Center, where she and Ardente Printaniere won the $70,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI2* in June. Abrahamson finished ninth on Saturday with Bugatti and is also coming off of a win in the $5,000 1.40m Jumpers earlier this month in North Carolina.

*Sydney Shulman and Ardente Printaniere*

The Under 25 division has become an increasingly important fixture at horse shows across the country. The classes serve as a way for athletes between the ages of 16 and 25 to bridge the gap between the junior jumpers and grand prix level and gain valuable experience that will allow them to develop into the next generation of successful equestrian competitors.

The Kentucky Summer Classic will begin on Tuesday, July 31, and will run through Sunday, Aug. 5. The week will highlight the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Thursday, Aug. 2, at 6:30 p.m., while Saturday, Aug. 4, will feature the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by the World Equestrian Center and Kentucky Horse Shows, in the Stonelea Ring and the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by GGT Footings, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Rolex Stadium.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Alex Matz – $10,000 Under 25 Classic winner

On his plan:
“I knew there were a couple of turns where I could make up some time, but really there were a lot of long gallops and I thought that’s where I could win the class. He’s a fast horse and he did everything that I asked. I was really happy with him.”

On Cashew CR:
“We got him about two years ago and he’s very careful. He has a lot of heart. This winter in Florida, we had some trouble in a few classes that scared him a little bit. My parents have been helping me out this summer and it really helped him. We just switched his bit this show and he seems to really like it. He gives me his all every time.”

On the U25 division:
“It’s kind of an intermediary between the high classics and the real grand prix classes. I competed in this division in Florida and I really like it.”

On his upcoming plans:
“We’ll do next week [in Kentucky] and then we’ll go to the Hamptons. We will probably do a couple more shows in the fall.”

RESULTS

$10,000 Under 25 Classic
Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time