Matthew Cartwright is confident the foundations laid in his initial stint will help him consolidate his position in New Zealand, but the talented young rider is determined to not suffer second-season blues.
The Victorian jockey will soon be on a plane back across the ditch, where he will look to capitalise on a breakout first Kiwi season.
The 22-year-old on Saturday farewelled Australia with a confidence-boosting Caulfield win aboard Pop Award, who is trained by his mother Leonie Proctor and grandmother Lyn Tolson.
But Cartwright knows he will need everything in his favour with comeback superstar Opie Bosson headlining a list of rivals who will ensure strong competition for 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 closing in on 300 career wins, more than 50 of which came in New Zealand this season, including a maiden Group 1 win on 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,” Cartwright 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.”
Buoyed by offers of support from Stephen Marsh and Tony Pike, leading local trainers who are not scared to travel one to Australia, Cartwright is excited about trying to uncover a galloper that might have him back in Victoria before the Spring Carnival is out.
“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.”
