Luke Cartwright celebrated a career milestone when he teamed with Wise Inlaw to claim Saturday’s $175,000 A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Victoria’s leading metropolitan apprentice notched his first Stakes success when he guided the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding to victory in the Listed event.
It was Cartwright’s 43rd Black Type start, eight of them in Group 1 races – one of which was a heart-breaking second aboard Extragalactic in this year’s The Goodwood – and he was thrilled to finally win one.
“It’s just a bit of a weight off my shoulders,” Cartwright said.
“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.”
Cartwright camped just off Prince Tycoon aboard Wise Inlaw in the Creswick Stakes and that pair settled down to fight out the race, with Wise Inlaw ($7) having half-a-length to spare over the $20 chance at the line.
Third, 1-1/2 lengths away, was New South Wales visitor Chains Of Love, the easy $4.20 favourite.
Wise Inlaw rewarded supporters at $7 according to leading Aussie betting sites, while favourite Chains Of Love ($4.20) and Prince Tycoon were among the key runners in betting apps Australia markets.
Wise Inlaw’s win gave Moody and Coleman back-to-back wins in the Creswick Stakes, after Bridal Waltz’s success last year, and Moody said coming to the realisation the son of Wootton Bassett was a sprinter was the key to the win.
“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 said.
“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.”
