As the racing community reels from Josh Cartwright's reckless ride on Senior Council in the final race at Morphettville on Saturday, and South Australian stewards confirmed a new investigation is under way, Cartwright's former mentor has said he was astounded by the young jockey's "brain fade".
Jamie Edwards, a Geelong trainer, said he couldn't believe what his one-time apprentice did when he appeared to angle his ride out into two horses on the outside - Go the Journey and House Of Wax - and deliberately make contact with them.
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Jockey slammed over riding tactics
Josh Cartwright has been charged with reckless riding after he appeared to angle his mount out into two horses at Morphettville in Adelaide.
At the same time, Cartwright's girlfriend, Anna Jordsjo, 21, was riding race favourite Murti for home, with a six-length lead.
Cartwright was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, reckless riding.
![Left of image, Josh Cartwright rides Senior Council into Go The Journey, who cannons into House of Wax.](/web/20170116064207im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/r/v/8/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtrzs7.png/1484542372068.jpg)
Cartwright was apprenticed to Edwards at his Geelong stable for three years and Edwards currently employs the jockey's younger sister, Georgina.
"It must have just been a brain fade. I can't work it out. He was a hard-working, very pleasant boy when he was down here and I just feel it's totally out of character.
"I've tried to ring him but he's appeared to have gone to ground and it's probably best to close up shop for a little while," Edwards said.
The trainer of Senior Council, John Peacock, said that he was "disgusted" with Cartwright's ride and had told the horse's Darwin owner that he "couldn't believe what the jockey had done to his horse on Saturday afternoon".
Peacock said that his horse had pulled up sore in the shoulder where he had cannoned into Go the Journey and House Of Wax.
But leading Adelaide trainer John O'Connor, who prepared House of Wax, one of the major victims from Saturday's indiscriminate interference, has sprung to the defence of Cartwright and the jockey's actions.
"I know that we get all sorts of interference in racing but this is way out of the realms that you would expect at any time," O'Connor said.
"But it's not an excuse to nail him to the cross. Rather, shouldn't we be having a look at his mental state?
"I've had a fair bit to do with him over the years and it's out of character and that's why we've got to have a look at the place that he's in at the moment.
"It's ridiculous to go running off and condemning him if he's not in a fit state," O'Connor said.
McEvoy said of Cartwright's handling of Senior Council in the Driving Handicap "that's as bad as I've seen for a while".