Crosswell's Double All Class

LAST Monday's meeting at Launceston turned out to be a memorable night for veteran Longford greyhound trainer David Crosswell when classy littermates Highland Vintage and Vintage Dancer saluted the judge first at the Christmas eve program.

As far as their early careers go, a little luck went a long way for Highland Vintage in a 278-metre graduation, opening his winning account at start four when leading all-the-way from box four.

Highland Vintage scored by half-a-length over Demon Lad and Jack's Whirl in a very-smart 16.28.

"They're going alright for 20-month-old pups," an experienced David Crosswell stated.

"Highland Vintage hasn't had the luck in sprint races but on Monday he jumped well and got a saloon passage down to the rail. If you look closely at the replay, he did go off balance going into the turn which cost him a bit of time."

The Crosswell kennel held out until the lucky last on the program, when the very-talented Vintage Dancer came from midfield off box two with a strong turn off foot, taking the lead coming off the back to score by three lengths running a slick 16.22.

By El Grand Senor from She's All Class, Vintage Dancer powered away, defeating Lashing Harry and Tah Bob, bringing up his third career victory from four race starts.

"Pat Holland (owner) has been a keen follower of the dogs and decided to buy a pup and that's how he purchased Vintage Dancer from me. Pat drove all the way from St. Helens on Monday  – he was really excited to see his pup go so well," Crosswell added.

She's All Class (Dyna Lachlan x It's A She) was a prolific performer winning 21 races from her 39 starts on tracks throughout Tasmania. Her career in the breeding barn has been a terrific ride for connections as well.

The first litter of five pups to Magic Sprite produced high quality chasers, Amity Class, Classy Petal, He's All Class, She's A Trinket and Trooper Class that together accrued 34 wins.

Through the four litter that have hit the track to date, She's All Class has produced quality progeny that have won 88 races with 48 seconds and 51 thirds from 356 starts, since the first litter touched the ground in early 2015.

Crosswell says hanging up the collar and lead is in the not too distant future.

Both David and his late wife Margaret have been strong figures in the Tasmanian greyhound industry for many decades, racing gallopers the ilk of True Vintage, Busy Vintage and Highland Summer.

Highland Summer was a sensational sprinter, winning 37 races in the space of an interrupted 18-month career of injures, before becoming a super sire.

The best was Busy Vintage – he became the first and only Tasmanian chaser to capture the National Sprint Title, the crowning glory of a glittering career.

Busy Vintage was the sire of the brilliant True Vintage, trained by David's late wife Margaret and owned by their daughter Debbie.

True Vintage is regarded to this day as Tasmania's greatest ever chaser, having won the 1988 Launceston Cup and Hobart Thousand double.

"These will probably be my last lot of dogs I'll have in the kennels," added David.

"She's All Class (dam) has an eight-week-old-litter to Aston Dee Bee which I lent her out to David Booth to breed with, I'll probably take two from that litter and that most likely will be it. Age is coming against me and I have a great life out of the dogs."