Fernando Produces Some Winter Magic

DAVID Crosswell renewed his stance on feature races in Tasmania on Thursday night when the ultra-consistent Fernando Magic powered to victory in the inaugural $10,000 Winter Tasbred Cup Final at Hobart (461m).

In what appeared on paper as one of the best local finals at Hobart for some time, Fernando Magic went into the Tasbred Series as the slowest of the qualifiers, but his prospects were never undersold, scoring arguably a career best performance.
The iconic Bishopsbourne owner, breeder and trainer David Crosswell was elated with the victory.
"He's a nice dog and I rate him more of a racer then a chaser, though in saying that his form has been good – the heat win last week was a nice effort," Crosswell explained.
"The time he ran in the heat last week may have been slow, he has run 26.14 finishing second at a previous start and the field was full of chances – our bloke did a tremendous job."
The son of Fernando Bale and She's All Class was wearing the blue vest for the first time in his 22 start career, beginning well midfield to then power through and sit within striking distance of the leaders coming off the top turn.
As Just Browsing and Yogi Mac were locked together in a leaders' duel turning for home, Fernando Magic pounced on the advantage, swooping around the duo, hitting top gear in the last few strides to score convincingly in 26.01.
Crosswell ended the night with a winning double as She's A Fernando scored earlier in 26.30.
"This litter have been great money spinners and I believe the best is yet to come," David stated.
Dam She's All Class (Dyna Lachlan – It's A She) was a prolific performer, having won 21 races of her 39 career starts on tracks throughout Tasmania.
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.
Her Fernando Bale litter has won 42 of 161 races with 45 minors and $93,870 in prizemoney.
"She has been a great producer and her third litter to El Grand Senor looks to be promising," he said.
David has spent a lifetime in racing, having put the polish on some legendry Tasmanian-bred chasers.
Highland Summer, Busy Vintage and True Vintage were three champions from the Crosswell kennels that have gone on to be inducted into the Tasmanian Greyhound Hall of Fame.
Highland Summer was a sensational sprinter winning 37 races in the space of an interrupted 18-month career with injures, before becoming a super sire.
The best of his progeny 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.