Smithson “Lost For Words” After Perth Cup Triumph

TRAINER Adam Smithson landed his first group 1 victory with Vice Grip claiming the Perth Cup on Saturday night.

Jumping from box five, Vice Grip defied the expected map to lead through the first turn ahead of outsiders Archibald and Speed Bandit.

From there, he was never threatened, extending his lead at every post to land Western Australia's biggest race by almost seven lengths in 29.42.

The time was 0.12 seconds faster than his previous best time at the track, and slashed 0.20 seconds off Orson Allen's race record.

Congratulations to Adam Smithson for taking out the 2022 Group 1 SKY Racing Perth Cup Final with his greyhound VICE GRIP. pic.twitter.com/EHJhB02Jne

— Greyhounds WA (@greyhounds_wa) March 19, 2022

"I'm lost for words to be honest," the 28 year-old Smithson told Leia Ernest following the win.

"He did everything right, he speared to the front and made his own luck. Down the back I thought wow, is this really happening. I'm still in disbelief, I can't believe it's happened.

"These sorts of races set you up for life. It's a credit to the guys who sent him over and a credit to the dog, he can't put a foot wrong over here."

The well-travelled Vice Grip began his career in Victoria and raced in Tasmania and the Northern Territory before finding his way to Western Australia.

He made his Cannington debut in September 2021 and has now won 11 of 15 starts at the track with four minor placings. The $150,000 winner's cheque took his career earnings past $350,000.

After three years of Victorian domination of the race, WA trained greyhounds filled the minor placings with Archibald running second and Rostered Off, a litter brother to Vice Grip, running third netting owners The Four Frothys syndicate a further $21,250.

Adam Smithson spoke with @leiaernest1 immediately after the win of Vice Grip in the Perth Cup. pic.twitter.com/Nk9IB7Q01t

— Greyhounds WA (@greyhounds_wa) March 19, 2022

Favourite Lala Kiwi found early trouble and was never a factor in the race, finishing seventh.

Earlier in the night, Mambo Monell's extraordinary early speed helped secure victory in the group 1 Galaxy (715m).

The series favourite and fastest qualifier for the $143,000 final, Mambo Monelli stepped well before brilliant acceleration to find the front through the first turn.

His second split of 15.63 was 4/100^th of a second under the 275m track record (run from the same boxes) and open a three-length lead over Knicks Bale with a lap to run.

Passing the 715m boxes for the final time, Knicks Bale had peaked on his run as Mepunga Ruby and Zipping Virginia made their moves, however they could not reel in the lamplighter, Mambo Monelli proving too good to win by 2¼ lengths in 41.59.

Trained by leading local trainer Steve Withers, Mambo Monelli has now won his last six starts and 10 from 11 the start of December 2021.  He is undefeated in his three attempts at the ‘half-mile', and the $100,000 first prize took his career earnings beyond $237,000.