Cartwright keen to capitalise in New Zealand

Matthew Cartwright is set to return to New Zealand, confident that the experience gained in his debut season will help him cement his place among the country’s top jockeys while avoiding the dreaded second-season slump.

The 22-year-old Victorian enjoyed a stellar first year across the Tasman, and he bid farewell to Australia on Saturday with a morale-boosting win at Caulfield aboard Pop Award, trained by his mother Leonie Proctor and grandmother Lyn Tolson.

Cartwright acknowledges the challenge ahead, particularly with star jockey Opie Bosson among the fierce competition for leading rides.

“It’s looking like it’s going to be competitive over there with a few of the riders coming back, but I’m ready to get over there and work hard,” Cartwright said.

“The second year is going to be, I wouldn’t say easier, but I’m just a little bit more well-known over there which is going to help.

“I’ve got a few stables that are going to support me, so that’s going to be the major difference.

“New Zealand, in general, has been good for me and I feel like as a rider I’ve got more confidence. I feel like I’m a better person and going to be a better rider going into next season.”

Cartwright is approaching 300 career wins, more than 50 of which came in New Zealand this season, including his first Group 1 success aboard Grail Seeker in the Tarzino Trophy.

“I rode a Group 1 winner in my first two months of riding over there, so it was very rewarding but the results did probably surprise me a bit,” he said.

“I was happy with what I did over there. I had 53 winners and eight Stakes winners in total, so I’d like to have a little goal of trying to better that.”

With solid support from leading trainers Stephen Marsh and Tony Pike, both known for sending horses to Australia, Cartwright is eager to find a horse that could bring him back to Victoria for the Spring Carnival.

“I’ll be working very hard and I’ve definitely got interest in riding in Australia on New Zealand horses if there was the opportunity,” he said. “I’ll definitely be looking for the type of horse that might be able to do that.”