Marsh One Step From Group 1 Goal In Perth Cup

CANNING Vale trainer Jamie Marsh has been sweating on a group 1 victory for a few years now and gets his chance next Saturday night after Elite Machine ran a 29.55 fastest time in the heats of the Group 1 Perth Cup (520m) at Cannington on Saturday night.

The son of Aussie Infrared-Pat's Lass was super impressive in winning his heat beating Runaway To Mars.

“I've had a few Group 1 finalists around the place but not won one yet,” said Jamie.

Elite Machine has only just come back from a stint in Victoria when trained by Jamie's mate, top trainer Brett Bravo.

Heat 7 goes the way of ELITE MACHINE for trainer Jamie Marsh pic.twitter.com/nBFs7KGlWy

— Greyhounds WA (@greyhounds_wa) March 11, 2023

“His owner Dan Williams wanted to give him a go over in Victoria and he had a few starts there for Brett,” said Jamie.

“But, with the Perth Cup coming up and the fact Elite Machine goes so well at Cannington, Brett sent him home for the Cup.

“He went great first up but was then knocked about in the Prelude.

“He went super winning the heat.

“The trip to Victoria has done him the world of good. He came back in super nick and in form.”

The box draw for the Perth Cup final will be done on Monday night.

Jamie does not worry about box draws for Elite Machine.

“It all depends on where the others in the final are drawn,” he said.

“This dog is not a rails crasher but will go straight early .

“The one to beat is Electrified. He is a very professional dog and more seasoned at the top level than our dog.”

Electrified ran 29.63 for Krystal Shinners winning his heat by three and a half lengths over Quick Smart.

“It is actually a very even final field,” said Jamie.

“Some of the big stars missed out. Who would have thought Crumble Monelli would lead and be run down. He's been the real star of WA racing of late.”

Jamie has only a dozen in training.

“I breed a litter a year and go from there,” he said.

“We've got a Fernando Bale litter out of Star Book who made the Perth Cup a couple of years ago.

“And we are lucky enough to get Marty and Cameron Hallinan rear our pups for us.”

Reigning Perth Cup winning trainer Adam Smithson went into the heats on Saturday night with Yahoo Serious and Who Told Tuff not expecting to land a double but that's what he got when both won their way into the final hoping to emulate Adam's former kennel star Vice Grip.

YAHOO SERIOUS takes out the first heat of the 2023 Perth Cup for trainer ADAM SMITHSON. pic.twitter.com/Tnt5LsJxqZ

— Greyhounds WA (@greyhounds_wa) March 11, 2023

Yahoo Serious ran 29.87 to beat Jimmy's Decision in his heat and Who Told Tuff went 30.11 to down star bitch Amplified.

James Jeffries landed with Mick Flash in 29.95, local star Momentum went 29.97 to run down Crumble Monelli for Cosi Dagostino, and David Hobby got compensation for Crumble's defeat when Lupini Monelli ran 29.79 to win over Kelsey Bale.

And Joe Dailly won his heat with Rumblin' Moment in 29.93 beating Hurricane Taylor.

Jamie Marsh will be doubly hopeful on final night next week.

“I snapped up some good odds about Couch Surfer to win the Galaxy final,” he said.

Couch Surfer scored by almost five lengths to win his heat of the Group 1 WA Galaxy (715m) beating Speed Freak.

Daniel Gibbons staying star Ariarne Bale ran 41.93 to beat Ballistic Any while Jack Strutt's grand staying bitch Stagger Out Lee is chasing her third G1 title after winning her heat in 41.97 beating First Picked.