Vice Grip's Tight Hold On Mandurah Cup series

VICE Grip heads towards Friday night's heats of the Mandurah Cup (490m) off a slick Cannington 29.79 win and a career that has seen him trip around the country.

The son of Aston Dee Bee and Group staying star Bells Are Ringin' has drawn box two for new trainer Adam Smithson at Nambeelup and he takes on a host of stars.

“Gee,” Smithson said. “It is one of the strongest Mandurah Cup series in a while. It doesn't usually get this deep.”

Vice Grip comes up against in-form Stargazer, Rippin' Purton, Jimmy's Decision, Tiger Town and Pixie Monelli.

FIELDS AND FORM MANDURAH FRIDAY

“He's only been in the kennel for a month and has slipped right in, he's going super,” Smithson said.

“He came to me after the Darwin Cup series and he had no luck at all in Darwin finishing fourth in the final.

“His run to win at Cannington on Saturday night was great and he was very strong at the finish.

“I was going to step him up in distance this week but there was no race for him so I decided to switch back to the Mandurah Cup heats.

“He's drawn in the two and that should suit him. He only has to hold his ground early to be hard to hold out at the finish. The inside alley really suits on the corner start.”

Adam trains Vice Grip for the Four Frothys Syndicate.

“Paul Stuart was full when the syndicate approached him a year or so ago to train Up And About so he recommended me,” Smithson added.

“We've got 20 kennels here and Up And About has been a multiple winner at Cannington and Mandurah since he's been here.”

Vice Grip started his career in Victoria and won at Healesville, Sale, Cranbourne, Horsham, Shepparton, Warrnambool and The Meadows before going to Darwin for the Cup series.

He has had four starts for Smithson for two Cannington wins and two placings.

He also trains Vice Grip's litter brother Low Blow (6 wins, $21,000) for the syndicate.

The four heats of the Mandurah Cup have attracted some of the best sprinters in WA including Momentum, Serong, Fernando Star, Destruction, Stanga Moose, Projectory, Sunset Piper, Veyron Star, Sir Monty and Jackson County.