Kennel Reset Has Crawford Chasing Winter Riches

GREYHOUND training can be a cruel game, just ask Jeff and Jane Crawford.

Last November, the Queensland couple were left pretty flat when kennel star Radar Gunn suffered a race ending injury, the daughter of Magic Sprite on the cusp of an exciting staying career.

That, coupled with a few other top prospects going down late last year, resulted in the Crawfords taking some time away from training to regroup for a big 2020.

And on Thursday night at Albion Park, the Crawfords will look to build further on a fruitful 2020 when recent kennel acquisition Classy Ethics lines up in the Dashing Corsair Final (710m) while Kiss And Spin takes her place in the Group 3 Flying Amy Classic (520m).

"We had a really tough trot at the end of last year with the kennel," said Jeff Crawford.

"Three or four race dogs got pretty serious injuries all at the same time so we decided to put racing on the back-burner and reset our focus on some of the pups and purchases we had coming through."

With some quality distance races penciled in for the Queensland winter program, Crawford turned his attention to filling the rather large staying void left by Radar Gunn, welcoming NSW chaser Classy Ethics into the fold, a winner of her Dashing Corsair heat last week in 41.97.

"I spent about a fortnight ringing people in Sydney to find a stayer for the winter events we had on in Queensland," Crawford said.

"I had a bit of a void to fill in the kennel and I knew with the staying ranks the way they are that if I could get the right dog we could be very competitive in the feature races.

"I came across Classy Ethics after watching a couple of replays and gave her trainer/owner David Smith a call. I'd met David a number of years ago and he was more than happy to give me Classy Ethics for at least the winter and we've struck up quite a good friendship out of it.

"He's made it very easy on Jane and I and we're hoping we can really repay the faith with some good results starting Thursday."

Encouraged by a first up fourth at Albion Park on May 28, Crawford wasn't surprised by Classy Ethics' slick victory last Thursday night.

"I was really pleased with her first up run as she'd only had one 600 trial," Crawford explained.

"Based on her runs in Sydney I thought she would be the kind of bitch that could get the 710 and we were rapt to see her come out and lead all the way  last week."

Taking her place in a quality finale this Thursday from box five, Classy Ethics runs into a rampaging Rasheda, the daughter of My Bro Fabio returning to brilliant form in recent weeks for Tony Apap, including last week's 41.87 heat romp.

"Rasheda and Infrared Lad are obviously the two dogs to beat based on their class," said Crawford.

"I'm quietly optimistic Classy Ethics can run a really competitive race based off the jumps she's made since she's been up here.

"Hopefully she can do well this week, get a start in the Super Stayers and then onto the Queensland Cup. If all goes well David (Smith) may even leave her up here with us a little longer. We'll see."

And while Classy Ethics has only recently arrived in Queensland, Kiss And Spin, the Crawfords finalist in the Flying Amy Classic, was bred and reared by the Buccan team.

The daughter of Kc And All and Reshuffle qualified for the group 3 final with a big odds second in her heat to the unbeaten Oski. 

"Kiss And Spin only broke-in average but we knew the motor was there because she was getting home at the end of her trials," Crawford said.

"We gave her a couple of weeks off and put her into full pre-training and she looked like a different bitch. Her first 331 at Albion Park she went 19.18 with an 11.80 run home, next week she ran quickest of the morning over the 395m.

"I had her right on track for the Dave Brett Maiden and on the eve of the race, along with a lot of other dogs in the kennel, she came down with the canine virus so we had to forego that idea. We started her off in the Bob Vernon at Capalaba where she was the only bitch in the final and ran third."

Listed one of the outsiders, Crawford is hopeful of a forward performance.

"She's developed a bit of a habit of coming out and crashing left so the wider boxes haven't suited her whatsoever lately," Crawford told.

"But drawn the inside this week is a big plus, I just hope she can use it. I believe she can get under 30 with the right run."