Twelve weeks of Hermès 1.50m competition came to a peak on Saturday evening in the $150,000 Hermès CSI4* 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final during the penultimate week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Wellington International. From a field bursting with international talent, Alex Matz (USA) sealed the deal with longtime partner Cashew CR from a 15-horse jump-off with less than a half a second to spare. After a season of consistent placings, fellow American, Spencer Smith, claimed the Hermès 1.50m Championship Jumper Series overall title.
Fifty qualified entries moved forward to the Hermès Final during the KASK sponsored WEF 11 over courses designed by Andy Christiansen (ECU). Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, FL.
Matz and Cashew CR, a 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Cassini II x Quinar Z) owned by his mother, Dorothy A. Matz, raced down the last line of the short course to pip Ireland’s Jordan Coyle riding For Gold, owned by Falkirk Farm. Matz stopped the clock at 35.31 seconds to Coyle’s 35.68. Nayel Nassar (EGY) claimed third aboard Igor van de Wittemoere in 36.15 seconds.
Alex Matz, son of 1996 U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Micheal Matz, says every class on Cashew CR is a blessing.
“He is such a competitor and shows up at the biggest moments; he loves competing at night in front of a crowd,” said Alex. “It's a testament primarily to him, but also to the team behind me that has him in such good shape.
“I saw Jordan Coyle go—he had a great round—and Nayel was behind me, but I knew that Cashew naturally has ground speed,” continued Matz, 28. “If I rode my plan, I knew I had a chance, and it played out.”
Cashew CR’s groom, Caesar Gonzalez, was presented with the $500 Grooms Award by Double H Farm for his care and preparation of the horse for the evening’s final.
For the overall Hermès 1.50m title, Smith was awarded a $10,000 Hermès store credit after most recently finishing atop the podium in third during the WEF 10 edition of the Hermès 1.50m Classic riding Tulara Colmine.
“Hermès is a great supporter of the sport and I'm very happy to be here,” said Smith, who piloted several horses throughout the WEF season thanks to support from owners that include his family’s Ashland Farms, Donald Stewart, Georgina Bloomberg and Dennis Sisco. “Twelve weeks is a lot of jumping and to be in it every week with a few big results is tough, so it's great to be consistent. The level [at WEF] was really elevated this season with amazing riders. It gets better and better every year, and this year we had most of the top 10 in the world.
“Alex is one of my best friends and I'm really happy to see him win the final tonight,” concluded Smith.
Earlier in the evening, several special awards were presented as the 2025 WEF season nears its end. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to trainer, USEF judge and USHJA Zone 2 chef d’equipe Ralph Caristo.
The David E. Burton Jr. Perpetual Trophy for Extraordinary Service was presented to dedicated Wellington International ring crew members Francisco Gomez “Lefty” and Ramon Huerta.
The Carly Anthony Showjumping Junior Sportsmanship Award, given in memory of Candida C. Forstmann, was presented by Carly Anthony to 17-year-old Clayton Farrell.
Complete results from the $150,000 Hermès CSI4* 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final can be found HERE.
Coco Fath and Harley D Hone In On BrainJava CSI2* Grand Prix
Coco Fath (USA) is good at saving the best for last. Not only did she return last to win the $62,500 BrainJava CSI2* Grand Prix, she also has big plans for the last week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Her win on Saturday of WEF 11 came aboard Harley D, owned by Hillside Farm, LLC, out of a competitive field of two-star competitors.
“It means a lot,” Fath said of her grand prix win. “It’s been a long time coming. He’s had a great season this year so it means a lot to finish it out strong, especially for a horse we’ve had since he was 7. I feel like as a team we’ve really developed.”
Fath admits it wasn’t an easy start with Harley D, but six years into their partnership they have figured each other out. “We both grew up a little,” she said of how she and the now 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Spartacus TN x Grandilot) learned to work as a team. “When I got him, I was 18 and going to college [Cornell University]. I hadn’t developed as a rider and he was a silly young horse; a little bit of a punk. We developed together which really helps. Now we appreciate each other for what we are.”
Their victory was hard earned, jumping one of only seven clear rounds over Andy Christiansen’s (ECU) course. Coming back last in the order, she edged out Delaney Flynn (USA) who held the lead but ended up second with Namamia, owned by Windsor Show Stables. Beat Mändli (SUI) and Kay Grey, owned by Grant Road Partners, were third.
According to Fath, what helps her most in jump-offs with Harley D are, “Left turns. We have a hard time turning right,” she laughed. “Anything with a left turn, he’s really quick.”
Fath will next focus on the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix to cap the season before giving Harley D some down time.
“Day to day he’s quite lazy,” she remarked of his normal program. “I spend a lot of time on the flat at home. We jump maybe a course before we come to the show and we try to leave as many jumps as we can out there. Most of all we keep him happy. He does enjoy his paddock time and time with other horses for sure.”
To see full results from the $62,500 BrainJava 1.45m CSI2* Grand Prix, click HERE.
