Alex Matz and Junior Kannan Clinch First FEI Win in WeatherTech CSI4* Grand Prix
USA’s Alex Matz and Junior Kannan (Kannan x Diamant de Semilly) nipped their first international victory together in the $200,000 WeatherTech CSI4* Grand Prix to close out Week 11 at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). WEF hosts 12 weeks of FEI competition in Wellington, FL, running through March 29.
Closing out Sunday action in the International Arena during the penultimate week of the 2026 WEF season, Matz headlined a nine-horse jump-off over tracks designed by Andy Christiansen (USA). With only one to return after him, Matz, 29, and his 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by his mother Dorothy A. Matz, cruised to a new time to beat in 35.79 seconds.
Fellow U.S. rider McKayla Langmeier and Riesling van de Gaathoeve, a 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (Iron Man vd Padenborre x Diamant de Semilly) owned by Rafferty Farm, did their best as the last to return, but came up short in 36.59 seconds. Finishing second, Langmeier was awarded the Martha Jolicoeur, Douglas Elliman Leading Lady Rider Award for WEF 11.
Ibrahim Barazi (JOR) rode 12-year-old stallion Joie De Vigo R.T. (Vigo d’Arsouilles Stx x Cassini I), owned in partnership between Maarten Driessen, Rene Hazeleger and Sofia Westborg, to third in 37.04 seconds.
“Junior is feeling phenomenal,” said Matz, who has had the ride on Junior Kannan for three years. “Today, he jumped even better in the jump-off than in the first round. I felt like I could really give it a go because of how he was jumping.
“This season, he’s been very consistent—I haven’t used him a lot because I did a lot with him last year, but I feel like he’s peaking at the right time,” continued Matz, who only piloted Junior Kannan in two international outings this season, including a top 10 finish during WEF 6.
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