Australian jockey Matt Cartwright has made an instant impact on his return to New Zealand, riding two winners from 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.
His mounts amassed more than $NZ3.2 million in prize money.
Cartwright has started the new season the right way, winning on 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 Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) and Group 3 Championship Stakes (2100m).
