Elite Machine takes ultimate honours in best ever Winter Carnival

By Pat McLeod

Queensland’s greatest greyhound carnival ended in a fitting, absorbing crescendo, with West Australian star Elite Machine winning the state’s first million-dollar race, the Group 1 Brisbane Cup at Albion Park on Friday night.

The Jamie Marsh-trained speedster derailed the trajectory of raging favourite Postman Pat (trained by Jason Thompson), who lost few fans with an incredible run from near the back of the field to finish second.

Veteran Victorian visitor Mepunga Warrior (Jeff Briton) was third.

The other Group 1 crown, the $262,505 Group 1 Queensland Cup over the staying trip, went to another interstate visitor, NSW’s Palawa King (Jack Smith).

As Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott told the huge crowd at ‘The Creek’: “What a magnificent race, proving this is a truly national event.”

The plaudits for the night, which drew the curtain on an extremely successful $3.3 million 2023 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival, went to Elite Machine.

“That win, that sits at the top of the shelf,” Marsh said.

Marsh's dog recorded a resounding five-and-a-half-length victory that reaped a $650,000 winner’s cheque.

“Words can't describe it. It is a rush like no other. He (Elite Machine) won the Perth Cup and now he has come and won the Brisbane Cup against Australia's best," he said. 

“All credit goes to him. He is the best that I have had.

“While he may not be the fastest dog that has ever graced my kennels, he is by far the best, just his will to win.

“His ability to keep pushing and chasing hard is astronomical.

“He beat a class field. He is an amazing dog with a super attitude.”

Marsh also poured praise on leading Queensland trained Tony Brett, who has been a caretaker trainer for not only Elite Machine for the past four weeks ago, but also a wave of other champion visitors, including Postman Pat.

“A lot of credit goes to Tony Brett, and the Brett family, for the job they have done with him in the past four weeks,” he said.

“Our hat goes off to Tony as always. We trusted this dog with Tony and he has done an amazing job.”

Marsh also paid tribute to Postman Pat, who picked up $160,000 for second place.

“Postman Pat’s form here was exceptional and his times here were exceptional,’ he said.

“He was always the dog to beat. But, they are not machines and everyone is welcome to their off day.

“Take nothing away from him. Postman Pat is an amazing dog and a dog that will go on to enormous things, I am sure.”

But, Marsh ensured his Aussie Infrared - Pat's Lass chaser, whose kennel name is ‘Nigel’, deservedly stayed in the spotlight.

“For us, it is about Nigel,” he said.

“All credit goes to him. He had every chance to put the cue in the rack, but he pushed hard and found a way to find the front and found a way to win.”

Marsh said that after a short rest Elite Machine would be focused on a Nationals campaign through August.

“The Nationals are on soon, so he will have a couple of double quarter-pounders, a couple of ice creams, a couple of weeks off and just love life," he said. 

There was similar emotion and elation after the running of the distance classic.

Jack Smith has enjoyed the flavour of Group 1 success on numerous occasions, but admitted the taste has not diminished in any way after Palawa King overcame boil over threat Locked On Scotch in Friday night’s $262,505 Group 1 Queensland Cup over 710 metres.

“The feeling, it is just unbelievable,” Smith said.

Smith's past successes include Miss Ezmae, Feral Franky and Jungle Deuce.

“It is the same as the first one. It does not get any better than this," he said. 

Since June 1, Smith, or wife Maree, have made the 22-hour round trip from Forbes, in western NSW, to Albion Park with ‘The King’ on six occasions.

Those miles have certainly been worth it, with Friday night’s $175,000 for first place taking his prize money tally to $307,335 from four wins, a third and a fourth.

“I feel privileged to be training this dog,” Smith said after the narrow win.

“He has been unreal. I am just so happy for the owners (Forbes local Errol Hughes).

“In previous years they have watched us with Feral Franky, and Jungle Deuce. They must have been thinking, ‘Could that happen to us?’. And, now it has.

“We always knew the dog had ability. He just puts in every week. He doesn't win every race, but he's done a pretty good job for a dog that's just two-and-a-half years old.

“He will have a week off now and he will be disappointed next week when he is not getting in the car.

“It will be an enjoyable drive back.”

The locals had plenty to cheer about in the under card events on Friday night.

Iconic Queensland trainer Cyndie Elson opened the night in spectacular fashion, taking out two of the early features.

Elson’s Cyndie’s Cyndie edged out Selena Zammit’s Icy Eyes by a head to take out the $24,000 Mick Byrne Memorial Final, with Logan Alpha (Peter Evans) third.

Then in the very next race on the card - the $45,000 Carnival Masters – Elson was in the frame again, this time with Hopeful Lana.

The Fernando Bale -  Hope’s Magic bitch also won by a tight margin, to Stephen McDermott’s Baby Guinness, with Tungsten Miss (Jedda Cutlack) third.

The locals continued the success in the mini-features with training trump Brett claiming the first of the consolations, ironically the Tony Brett Consolation, with Panama Pepper. Second was Cluster (Selena Zammit) with Flying Amy Classic winner Dundee Rebel (Rusty Dillon) third.

And, again it was a local in the main non-Group event, the $112,500 Orchestrate Consolation, with Jemma Daley’s Hara’s Herbie securing the $75,000 winner’s cheque in a slick 29.69 seconds, from Bob Cooke’s Cash Master and Kai Bale (Correy Grenfell).