Press release from Blenheim Equisports

Chile’s Matias Fernandez Cuevas and Emotion des Truffiers led the CHF35,000 CSIO5* Speed, presented by South Coast Plaza, from beginning to end on Saturday, May 13, at the San Juan Capistrano International. 

The duo was the first of 16 entries to take on Leopoldo Palacios’ speed track, and they laid down a time of 60.62 seconds that would prove uncatchable. Coming the closest – with a time of 62.25 seconds – was Canada’s Sean Jobin aboard Coquelicot Heuvelland Z, owned by Foxridge Farms Stables. Fellow Canadian Beth Underhill rounded out the top three with a time of 64.32 seconds riding Jack, owned by Thaisa Erwin.

“It’s amazing!” said Cuevas of his win and the competition throughout the week in California. “For a rider, this experience is amazing – riding with the best riders in the world. I learn a lot, and it’s an amazing atmosphere and fun to be here.” 

Cuevas continued, “For my horse, [the course] was pretty comfortable, so I was confident. I went into the ring number one, so I stuck with my plan, and it worked [well]!”

Cuevas has only been partnered with the 9-year-old Selle Français gelding, owned by L&L Equine Investments LLC, for the past year, but they have meshed well in that time. “He doesn’t have too much experience, but he’s pretty good,” concluded Cuevas, who is currently based in San Francisco, CA. “For me it’s a very important win, and I am so excited!”