Auckland TR 18 October 2025 – R7 – Matt Cartwright

Evidence

Following the running of Race 7, the Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638(3)(f)(vii). The Informant, Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr B Jones, alleged that the Rider of the first placed WELL WRITTEN, Mr M Cartwright, used his whip on a horse that was clearly winning.

Mr Cartwright acknowledged he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach.

Rule 638(3)(f)(vii) provides: A Rider shall not use his/her whip on a horse when clearly winning

Stewards showed the incident to the Adjudicative Committee using the available video footage. WELL WRITTEN trailed the leader into the home straight and went into the front shortly after straightening.  WELL WRITTEN raced away from the body of the field and won the race by a widening margin of 6 ¾ lengths.  In the run up the straight, despite being clearly in front, Mr Cartwright struck his mount 2 times inside the final 100 metres. Stewards were concerned that besides both strikes being unnecessary, they were applied with force.

Decision

As Mr Cartwright admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved.

Submissions for Penalty

Mr Jones advised that Mr Cartwright has a clear record under the Rule. He said that breaches of this nature attract a starting point penalty of a $300 fine. However, given that this breach occurred in a Group 2 Race, an uplift from that starting point is sought.

In response, Mr Cartwright said “this is my horse’s second race start.  I thought it was labouring, and …I didn’t realise I was so far in front”.

Reasons for Penalty

Penalty Guide establishes a $300 fine as the starting point penalty.

The race films show that Mr Cartwright’s use of the whip when his mount was clearly in front, was unnecessary and cannot be justified.

Given the breach occurred in a Black Type (Group 2 Race), with stake money of $175,000 and taking into account that Mr Cartwright’s mount won the race, by 6 ¾ lengths, a $200 uplift is applied to the starting point.

Therefore, after considering the submissions, including the status of the race and the stakes involved, the Adjudicative Committee decided that in the circumstances, a $500 fine was appropriate.

Conclusion

Mr Cartwright is fined the sum of $500.