Matthew Cartwright (Image: Racing Photos)
Well-regarded apprentice Matthew Cartwright will always remember his first city treble at The Valley on Saturday after his third winner came in course record time.
Cartwright was aboard High ‘N’ Dry, who finished with some gusto to score after a sizzling early tempo set by Galactic Fury, and the 1:28.99 the pair recorded in the seventh race established a new mark for the 1500-metre course.
Cartwright, 19, who is in great demand as he claims two kilograms in the metropolitan area, is on track to ultimately outride his city claims as he has now ridden 43 city winners with his 19 winners this season placing him eighth on the Melbourne jockeys' premiership.
WATCH: High ‘N’ Dry wins at The Valley
His early wins came aboard Swelter Magic ($12) in race four and on Yulong Command ($2.50 favourite) in the fifth.
Cartwright’s first city win came in April, 2020. The teenager said the early fast pace gave High ‘N’ Dry the opportunity run on.
"The key to this horse is fast tempos and we got that today, he travelled right into it," Cartwright said.
Trainer Mathew Ellerton said High ‘N’ Dry threatened to be one of his better young horses before an injury put him off the scene for some time.
"In a previous life he might have had good stakes ability as a three-year-old and he’s back to something near that but he’s deep into a prep now," he said.