Spain's Juan Matute, Jr., Earns Second CDI Win with Don Diego Ymas in the FEI Prix St. Georges

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Spain's Juan Matute, Jr., Earns Second CDI Win with Don Diego Ymas in the FEI Prix St. Georges

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Posted by Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Juan Matute, Jr. and Don Diego Ymas Photo: SusanJStickle

In only his second CDI outing with Don Diego Ymas, 16-year-old Juan Matute, Jr., conquered the FEI Prix St. Georges presented by Chesapeake Dressage Institute at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Matute, Jr., and Don Diego Ymas won the class with a score of 71.421%. Canadian Britney Fraser took second with All In with a final score of 70.684%, while Heather Mason (USA) and Zar were third with 70.421%. Matute, Jr. won the Intermediaire-I during the first week of competition for the AGDF and was thrilled to pick up another small tour victory with Don Diego Ymas. "It feels amazing. We were not expecting it!" Matute, Jr., grinned. "We were just expecting to perform well, and of course getting a good score is always part of that, but our first goal was just to be good and to enjoy [the test] and create a stronger bond with each other.

"We had some mistakes in the threes, so a few parts of the canter were a bit messy, but I think the overall picture was great," he continued. "The contact was great; the frame was great."

Matute, Jr. also picked up a blue ribbon earlier in the morning with Dhannie Ymas in the FEI Junior Team Class. Matute, Jr., admitted that both horses enjoy taking in the sights of the winner circle.

Juan Matute, Jr. and Don Diego Ymas Photo: SusanJStickle

"They like it. They like to win! They like the people clapping and the whole atmosphere of victory," Matute, Jr., commented.

With the season in Wellington off to an exciting start, Matute, Jr. now looks forward to the FEI Nations Cup during the AGDF 7 CDIO, presented by Stillpoint Farm and Peacock Ridge.

"My goal is to do well in the small tour this season in Wellington, and my goal by the end of the year is to move up to the Under 25 [classes]. We're going to do the Nations Cup, so that's one of the biggest goals for the small tour this season," Matute, Jr. outlined.

Matute, Jr. spent two months in Germany training with Oliver Oelrich before returning home to Wellington to resume training with his father, Juan Matute, Sr. Matute, Jr. enjoys having a trainer-student relationship that runs deeper than most. "I love it. I get to ask questions 24/7. My dad sometimes wants to kill me at the dinner table because I keep asking questions and asking questions," Matute, Jr. laughed. "But I think it's great because besides having that relationship as father and son, we keep that relationship in the ring."

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Spain's Juan Matute, Jr., Earns Second CDI Win with Don Diego Ymas in the FEI Prix St. Georges

DRESSAGE DAILY