Matt Cartwright is back on Kiwi soil and he has made an instant impact on his return, riding home two winners from just nine rides in the past week.
The 22-year-old Australian hoop moved across the Tasman last year to further his riding career, and he was rapt with his season tally of 53 wins, including seven Group or Listed victories, and he amassed more than $3.2 million in prizemoney.
“I felt like I had a great season for my first season in New Zealand,” he said. “I am very happy with how things went. A highlight would be the first day at the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, having a treble and my first Group One win on Grail Seeker.
“It was a rewarding season, and I am looking at hopefully going a little bit better this season.”
Cartwright went back home to Victoria for the last few months to spend time with family and friends, for whom he also had success for in the saddle.
“I had a bit of a lighter winter, but I rode here and there just to keep my fitness up,” he said. “I was very happy with my time at home, I spent a lot of time with family and friends, and I had a bit of success too, which was great.
“I rode a couple of winners for my Mum and Grandmother, and I rode a couple of winners for one of my good mates, Clay Beasy, so It was quite rewarding. I had a metro Saturday winner for my family, which was definitely a highlight for my time back at home.”
Feeling renewed after his trip back home, Cartwright is pleased to be back in New Zealand where he has already ridden a couple of winners, including Cashla Bay for Andrew Forsman at Ruakaka last Saturday and Secret Beau for Joe Waldron at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday.
“I am very happy to get a couple of winners within my first week of riding back in New Zealand,” he said. “I am feeling fit and well, so I am ready to have a good crack this season and hopefully a bit of support comes my way, and I have a bit of luck over the next month or two.”
Cartwright has a number of horses he is looking forward to riding in the new term, including the Stephen Marsh-trained Kiwi Skyhawk, who he rode to victories in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) and Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m).
“A horse that holds a special place in my heart is Kiwi Skyhawk,” Cartwright said. “He is a horse I had great success on and had a couple of Group wins. I am looking forward to getting back on him.
“I am also looking forward to riding a horse called Storm Front for Tony Pike, he is quite a nice colt.”
While Cartwright admitted leaving his family and friends in Australia was quite tough, he knows he is better placed in New Zealand at this time of his career, and he is hoping to have another lucrative season on this side of the Tasman.
“It was naturally a little bit (hard) leaving family, but it (New Zealand) is where my career is best set at the moment, so I am happy here and I will be working very hard,” he said.
Cartwright will be looking to add to his winning haul at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Friday where he will ride Agera in the Saddlery Warehouse (2000m) and Deep Pursuit in the Phelan Racing (1300m) for local trainer Tony Pike.