Matt has his sights set on Rio with new partner Valinski S

30yo Australian rider Matt Williams, had a great round in the 1.60m Grand Prix at the CSIO4* in Wellington, FL (USA) at the beginning of March.

He finished third behind Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Red Star d’Argent and Colombia’s Roberto Teran Jr. and Woklahoma. Matt was one of only five riders qualified for the jump-off.

Matt Williams and Wyndmont’s Valinski S were first to qualify, and first to return for the short course, completing the track without fault in the third place time of 45.79 seconds. Roberto Teran, Jr. was next to jump-off aboard Ark Partners’ Woklahoma, with another clear round and a faster time of 44.89 to finish second. Next in the ring, Darragh Kenny and Red Star d’Argent clocked the winning time of 42.83 seconds. Hardin Towell (USA) and Jennifer Gates’ Emilie de Diamant AS had one rail down in 46.84 seconds to finish fifth. Last to go, Ben Maher (GBR) and Jane Clark’s Sarena also dropped a rail, but finished in a faster time of 44.43 seconds to place fourth.

Kenny had the opportunity to watch Williams complete his jump-off round before he entered the ring, and had an idea of what he needed to do to get the win. “I watched Matt go, and Matt’s horse was amazing and he had a super round,” Kenny stated. “I felt that I just wanted to go as fast as I felt comfortable. I know the horse is very fast. I know I did one less stride after the black skinny, and I just had a feeling where I was and that I was up a little bit (on the time). I did not realize I was going as fast as I was, but it ended up being great.”

Matt has his sights set on the Olympic Games in Rio with his great new partner Valinski S, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Nijinski x Julius.

“I have not had him that long. I got him at the beginning of the winter and every time he has gone in a big Grand Prix, he has been clear or four faults, so he is consistent and giving me a great feeling,” Williams said of his mount. “He jumps with a lot of heart, so at the moment I just have to keep him fresh and hopefully it will keep going to way it is going.”

Speaking of his opening ride in the jump-off, Williams noted, “I have not jumped this Grand Prix in four years, and the last time I did it, I was first to go in the jump-off as well, but unfortunately there were 12 in the jump-off that time and it did not work out as well. I went out there with an idea to do as much as I could and leave the jumps up. I got a little bit wide to the last jump. I drifted out a little bit, but I do not think I would have gone any quicker if I was after Darragh. I would not have been able to catch him; his round was as good as it comes.”

"I was really happy with the result, this has been the main Grand Prix on my mind for the winter with it being the CSIO week and knowing it would be one of the toughest of the circuit so I really tried to have him set up for this one. My next big goal for him is the Great American $1 million Grand Prix in Ocala.”