CROSSFIELD DUSTY landed his third major competition with a brilliant exhibition of sprinting to claim gold in the Stadium Bookmakers Northamptonshire Sprint Final at Towcester on Sunday.

Trained by Patrick Janssens for Marc White, the January 20 son of Droopys Jet and Crossfield Kate headed into the £10,000 decider as winner of the Scurry Gold Cup at Perry Barr and National Sprint at Nottingham last year – and now added another title to his burgeoning CV.

However, it required a superb start to secure the all-important first run on chief rival Havana Class, who also came away well, after which it was race-on between the Janssens runner and Liz McNair’s Laurels champion and track record holder – the pair pretty much having the race between them from the get-go.

Blasting into the bend and running the bends superbly, Crossfield Dusty was in full flight to hold Havana Class and, while the runner-up gallantly closed up the run-in, the local sprinter held his form to cross the line a length clear of Havana Class, with Signet Mafia (Kevin Hutton) two lengths away back in third.

The winning time for the 270m was a fast 15.54sec – just over a length off Havana Class’s best – and delighted winning trainer Janssens who described the two-year-old as immense and “the dog of a lifetime” for a sprinter.

“He’s only just two years old and has won every final he’s been in. We gave him a break in January and he was a touch ring-rusty in the early rounds but you could see he was coming back to his best in the semis and today he was just brilliant. The way he’s come away was brilliant and he’s just an immense sprinter.

“Brendan O’Shea, who still has a half-share in him, told us he’d be the perfect dog for England and he was right. It’s just a shame that Marc (White, owner) got held up on the M25 and couldn’t be here, but hopefully he still managed to watch it.

“It was a great race and we know Havana Class is a top-class dog. He won the Laurels over four bends so was never going to be stopping in behind so Dusty had to keep his form to the line. I’m delighted with the winning time, too, just a length off the clock on going that wouldn’t be as quick as a summer, so it was top-class run.

“Many thanks to the sponsors and to Towcester. I love it here. We won the Derby here which was a magical day, but we’ve also won the Maiden Derby, the Blue Riband and also won the Northamptonshire Sprint with Bockos Jon Jo last year – but you can’t win these events if they’re not on!

“So well done to Kevin (Boothby, promoter) for putting these great competitions on which owners and trainers love. Many thanks to my staff, too. Kelly who paraded and looked after Dusty on the day, plus Cheryl, Ria and Helen at the kennels – and all I’d say is that, were these events on a Saturday night, then we could all be there. 

“It was actually a busy weekend anyway with Monmore on Saturday, too, which is why we weren’t at Romford on Friday, but it’s the Golden Sprint there this week and Crossfield Dusty could head there. I’ll be chatting with Brendan and Marc about what’s next.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=382491&raceId=818429