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Live sport on SN this weekendCartwright living the Kiwi dream
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • September 4th, 2026 2:11 pm
Expat Australian jockey Matt Cartwright | Photo: Megan Liefting (Race Images)
Expat Australian jockey Matt Cartwright is living the dream in New Zealand as he gets set to partner two favourites on Proisir Plate Day at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The Cambridge-based hoop will reunite with New Zealand’s darling of the turf, Well Written, in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m), while he has also secured the ride on Queensland raider Dream Roca in the Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m).
Both horses won their respective age group races at the Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie in January, with Cartwright aboard the Stephen Marsh-trained Well Written, while Queensland jockey Ben Thompson rode the Liam Birchley-trained Dream Roca.
Thompson has ridden Dream Roca in all seven of her starts to date, with the pair winning the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and placing in the Gr.2 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) and Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m), and Cartwright is looking forward to stepping in this weekend.
“It is very exciting,” Cartwright said. “She looks like she is going to be a very good chance on Saturday and she has got a very good gate (2).
“I have had a couple of gallops on her since she has arrived and she feels great to me, she looks super and her form speaks for itself. I am excited to be partnering her. She looks a good winning chance.”
While excited to be aboard the El Roca filly, Cartwright’s key ride at the meeting will be on undefeated Group One winner Well Written, who will tackle weight-for-age company for the first time in the Proisir Plate.
The daughter of Written Tycoon beat all before her as a three-year-old last season, notching six victories, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m).
Well Written was sent out a dominant favourite in all but her debut victory, and Cartwright and trainer Stephen Marsh have faced mounting pressure at each start, which they have taken in their stride. Nothing has changed heading into her resuming run as a four-year-old, with the mare shortening into a $1.65 favourite for Saturday’s feature.
“There is pressure around it,” Cartwright said. “There is expectation for her to win but I am very confident in how she is going.”
Well Written has had two trials leading into the Proisir Plate, finishing runner-up over 970m at Cambridge last month before winning her 1100m heat at Te Rapa, before working alongside stablemate Little Black Dress at Ellerslie last Thursday.
“She feels much stronger, I feel like she has matured a bit more as a horse mentally and physically as well, which is a great sign,” Cartwright said. “I think she has improved from her last prep. I can’t fault her in her work, she has been working up well.
“She has to take the next step into weight-for-age level, it is a big step for a three-year-old filly, but she has got very good quality about her and I think she can take that step.
“I am excepting what everyone else is expecting, she is going to be a great winning chance on Saturday.”
Cartwright was glowing in his praise of Ellerslie’s track surface following last week’s hit-out, and he can’t wait to race on it this weekend.
“Ellerslie was prepped absolutely beautifully, and I am sure it is going to be 10 out of 10 on Saturday to race on,” he said.
Well Written has drawn barrier seven, just outside speed merchant and second favourite Alabama Lass, with the two mares expected to go forward.
“We’ll just see how she (Well Written) jumps and how she travels,” Cartwright said. “She usually races up into a handy enough position.”
Cartwright is riding the crest of a wave at the moment, and he said he is loving his time in New Zealand, with Well Written proving to be a horse of a lifetime for the 24-year-old Australian.
“She is a horse that has been lifechanging and a big part of my career and my success,” he said. “I have had the biggest thrills at the races with her. She has made me a better rider as well, dealing with the pressure.
“I am loving my time in New Zealand. I am onto my third season now and I am really happy with how everything is going. I have been getting some massive support, which has been a massive help. I don’t want to change anything up anytime soon.”
BIG SATURDAY has racing from Ellerslie and New Plymouth. The highlight from the City of Sails is the first Group One race of the season - the Proisir Plate featuring Well Written up against Alabama Lass and First Five. Tune in to Big Saturday on Trackside 1 or trackside.co.nz from 11:30am
