Apprentice Matthew Cartwright has been riding the crest of a wave in recent weeks and at The Valley on Saturday it led to his first metropolitan treble.
Cartwright’s victory aboard High ‘N’ Dry in the Mirasan Hand Santiser Handicap (1500m) was his seventh city win in the past eight days.
He scored aboard Decent Raine at Flemington last Saturday, registered a double at Sandown on Wednesday and had a winner at the Rapid Racing meeting at Flemington on Friday.
Cartwright was the replacement rider for Teo Nugent on Swelter Magic, winner of the Mia Kleer Sanitiser Handicap (2500m) after Nugent was ruled out with a suspected fractured wrist.
Following Swelter Magic’s win, Cartwright led throughout aboard Yulong Command in the Ladbrokes Fast Withdrawals Handicap (1000m).
Cartwright hopes Saturday’s treble may lead to the in-form apprentice getting opportunities in some of the upcoming big autumn handicaps.
“It’s rewarding,” Cartwright said of his treble.
“I’ve been getting good support so I can’t thank all the trainers enough for giving me these good rides and luckily I’ve been able to get the job done.
“I’ve been doing a bit of work for Freedman’s, Ciaron Maher and I’ll try and spread myself a bit further and see if I can keep my form up which might enable me to sneer a few light rides over the autumn.”
Cartwright rode High ‘N’ Dry to victory at Flemington two starts ago and was also aboard when the gelding finished fourth at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
“He’s been going good this prep and his win two back was really soft,” Cartwright said.
“He was pretty genuine last start off a slow tempo and the key to this horse is fast tempos and we got that today.”