Adam Smithson’s firm Vice Grip on group one Perth Cup glory
28-year-old West Australian greyhound trainer Adam Smithson has been riding a wave of success of late and last night it reached a point of euphoria after Vice Grip saluted in the Group One Sky Racing Perth Cup final on Saturday night.
Having to overcome a tricky middle draw, the son of Aston Dee Bee and Bells Are Ringin stepped beautifully from box five and took the lead at the winning post the first time, which Smithson reiterated was the key to his success.
“He speared out, he did everything right, he got to the front and made his own luck.”
He was chased gallantly by Archibald for Rob Westworth who finished 6.5 lengths away in second and Paul Stuart's Rostered Off placed third. The result giving Western Australia a rare clean sweep of the placings in the final.
Pre-race favourite with greyhound racing betting sites Lala Kiwi found early trouble, along with Paddy Wants Pat who couldn't cross from the wide alley.
Vice Grip carved out the 520m journey in a slick 29.42 in notching up career win number 28 from start 64.
Adam Smithson only recently quit his job to pursue his dream of training greyhounds full-time and has been rewarded with Vice Grip having made the inaugural final of The Phoenix as Greyhounds WA representative back in December 2021.
Smithson, along with partner Chontae White; have had an outstanding run to start 2022 having notched up 13 winners at a 32% winning strike rate and 63% place rate.
Vice Grip, a former Victorian; is owned by the Four Frothys Syndicate and the Group 1 Perth Cup $150,000 winner's purse took his career total earnings to $358,460.