Josh Cartwright snares first Melbourne win Josh Cartwright riding Romancingthestone wins Race 1 at Caulfield. The new year brought a change of luck for apprentice Josh Cartwright, who broke through for his first Melbourne metropolitan win on the Robbie Griffiths-trained Romancingthestone in the Claire Andrews Handicap (1000 metres) at Caulfield. Cartwright, 19, rode a winner at Morphettville last month and has ridden plenty of winners in the bush, but had been frustrated in Melbourne before Saturday's win. "I've had about seven seconds in Melbourne so it's good to get one," Cartwright said. The win brought Cartwright's tally of winners to 97, and given his three-kilogram claim he is sure to attract the attention of many trainers. "I've got to thank Robbie Griffiths because he's supported me since day one," said Cartwright, who is apprenticed to Jamie Edwards and Bruce Elkington at Geelong. Cartwright had Romancingthestone ($3.80 favourite) nicely positioned just behind the speed before taking over shortly after straightening, and she fought on well to win by 2½⁄ lengths from Mitzi Del Bra ($6), who ran on well from last. Fellow apprentice Katelyn Mallyon enjoyed a good start to her association with Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra with a front-running ride on Spellrocker ($13) in the Lisa Clarence Handicap (1600 metres). Mallyon kicked Spellrocker clear on the turn, and despite getting a little tired near the line, she held on to win by a long head from Flying Hostess ($2.30 favourite). "She can sustain a good gallop so I knew if I could get them off the bit, she'd be hard to beat," Mallyon said. Mallyon has just commenced a three-month loan from her father Brett Mallyon to Ellerton and Zahra and if all goes well the loan is likely to be extended. "She'd been riding work [for us] on Tuesdays and Fridays and it was the right time to come to town and establish herself," said Zahra. She's with us for three months but if it works out we'll probably keep it going. Ellerton and Zahra later brought up a double when Pillar Of Creation ($5.50), ridden by their former apprentice Damien Lane, won the Equiano Speed Handicap (1400 metres). Patrick Moloney continued his good recent form, combining with the in-form Hawkes stable to win the Sando Handicap (1200 metres) on Laohu ($6). Moloney has now won a race at the past three meetings in Melbourne. Wayne Hawkes said his family's stable was having one of its best seasons. "We normally have 50 or 60 winners for the season and that was about our 44th or 45th," Hawkes said. Tony Vasil was quick to praise champion jockey Damien Oliver's skill in cajoling The Wingman ($11) back to winning form in the Equiano Speed Yearlings Handicap (1600 metres.) The eight-year-old defeated Quick Snitzel ($1.55) by a neck. Apprentice Jake Duffy was dealt a double blow after his ride on Final Jest in the Equiano Speed Handicap. Having incurred a 10-meeting suspension for using his whip in an improper manner at Wangaratta on Friday, he was suspended for a further nine meetings for causing interference at Caulfield.