Luke Cartwright marked a significant moment in his career when he partnered Wise Inlaw to victory in Saturday’s $175,000 A R Creswick Stakes over 1200 metres at Flemington.
Victoria’s leading metropolitan apprentice rider secured his inaugural Stakes success guiding the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding to the win in the Listed event.
This was Cartwright’s 43rd Black Type engagement, with eight of those being in Group 1 races. He reflected on a close second aboard Extragalactic in this year’s The Goodwood, and expressed his profound relief at finally tasting Stakes race victory.
“It’s just a bit of a weight off my shoulders,” Cartwright shared.
“It’s made me a lot more determined to work even harder at it, because it doesn’t come overnight.
“We went close in a few of the bigger races, but that just made me to come back down to basics through winter, knuckle down, tidy up a few things in my riding and I can’t thank the team behind me enough.”
In the Creswick Stakes, Wise Inlaw, with Cartwright in the saddle, settled just off the pace set by Prince Tycoon. The pair then engaged in a spirited contest for the lead, with Wise Inlaw ($7) ultimately prevailing by half-a-length at the post.
Finishing third, a length and a half behind the winner, was the New South Wales challenger Chains Of Love, who had been the $4.20 favourite.
Wise Inlaw rewarded its supporters at odds of $7 from leading Australian betting sites, while the favourite Chains Of Love ($4.20) and Prince Tycoon featured prominently in the betting markets available on betting apps Australia.
The victory represented a second consecutive Creswick Stakes win for the Moody and Coleman stable, following Bridal Waltz’s success last year. Moody indicated that the key to the gelding’s improvement was the realisation that he was best suited as a sprinter.
“We always thought he was a seven-furlong (horse), miler but about eight or 10 weeks ago we made the decision that he couldn’t run 1400,” Moody stated.
“We brought him back to the straight and he was very impressive here three runs back.
“I think we went to the Bletchingly Stakes after she (Bridal Waltz) won this last year, but realistic he’s probably ready for a little break.
“He might have time for a freshen up and be back at Caulfield, but we’ll let him guide the path.”
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