HORSE RACING

MORNINGTON-based jockey Matthew Cartwright will be looking to keep his hot streak rolling after riding a winner at every meeting he attended last week.

The 19-year-old apprentice’s week kicked off in perfect fashion on Tuesday 18 January where he went to Moe for just the one ride aboard the Ken and Kasey Keys-trained Poleaxed and duly saluted.

Cartwright then notched up a winning double at Sandown the following day aboard Cardigan Queen and Zachaz for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace before landing another winner at Flemington on the Friday.

His success culminated in a winning treble at The Valley on the Saturday.

Cartwright guided Swelter Magic (race 4) and Yulong Command (race 5) to comfortable on-pace victories before winning aboard High ‘n’ Dry (race 7) in track record time for the 1500m – 1:28.99.

Cartwright, who ended up with seven winners from 17 rides last week, put the success down to a few factors.

“I couldn’t be happier with how I’m going at the moment. I’m getting good support, nice rides and my racing manager Travis Johnstone is doing a great job,” he said.

“I reckon riding throughout the Spring and competing against the top jockeys has also helped me a bit going into the summer.”

Cartwright, who is apprenticed to his mother and grandmother, Leonie Proctor and Lyn Tolson also partnered their stable star Curran in race 8 at The Valley.

The gelding got back in the field before finishing off strongly to finish sixth under the 61.5kgs topweight.

Cartwright has partnered the sprinter to all four of his victories and while he was happy with the run, believed the gelding is ready for a break.

“I was happy with the performance. The race shape didn’t suit us but he still ran good, but he’s probably ready for a spell now.”

Cartwright currently sits eighth on the metro jockey’s premiership with 21 winners, and sits second out of the apprentices with Josh Richards ahead of him with 28 winners.

First published in the Mornignton News – 25 January 2022