BRETT CRAWFORD HAS HIGH HOPES OF CLASS TWO HAPPY VALLEY VICTORY WITH ENCOUNTERED

First-season Hong Kong handler believes his six-year-old can go one better after a slashing first-up second to Lo Rider

Buoyed by Encountered's slashing run on his stable debut, Brett Crawford is optimistic the Group Three winner can deliver him his first Class Two success in Hong Kong in Wednesday night's Lei Yue Mun Handicap (1,800m) at Happy Valley.

Transferred after three seasons with Manfred Man Ka-leung and last term with David Hall, Encountered went close to a breakthrough victory after storming home to fall only three-quarters of a length short of Lo Rider in second last month.

The former British galloper, who hasn't won since his Group Three Sa Sa Ladies' Purse (1,800m) triumph in 2023, is one of several stable transfers who have improved under Crawford's care.

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The South African handler has made an encouraging start to his first Hong Kong campaign, notching a Sha Tin double with Speedy Smartie and Ninja Derby to go with three placings from 15 starters.

Crawford said a Class Two victory at the city circuit on Wednesday night would be "amazing".

"I'm happy with him. He's been doing well at home, he looks like he's in good form and I expect him to run well again," Crawford said of Encountered.

"He was very good [first up] and he showed it at home, so I think it's looking positive that he'll do the same on Wednesday."

Encountered's bid for an eighth local win is boosted by a 5lb-swing on the reopposing Lo Rider and a barrier draw advantage on the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding.

Encountered has drawn gate four while Lo Rider must overcome barrier nine after capitalising on the inside draw to score first up.

"He's a horse I don't do much with in terms of working with other horses, so it's a little bit hard to get a line on him, but he's done well, he looks well and he's eating well, so we expect him to run a good race," Crawford said.

Ninja Derby will chase back-to-back wins for Crawford when the brilliant last-start winner tackles the Class Five Ngau Chi Wan Handicap (1,650m) at the Valley.

The former Tony Cruz-trained galloper crossed from gate 14 to lead and then proceeded to demolish his rivals last month, scoring by two and three-quarter lengths in class record time over the Sha Tin 1,600m.

"Although we did expect him to run well, he did surprise us a bit with the manner in which he won," Crawford said.

"He's doing really well - very happy with him. He's come out of his last race well and he looks like he's been going good at home. Lyle [Hewitson] is very happy with him and he's dropped quite a lot in the ratings, so I think he's got room to manoeuvre.

"If he puts in the same type of effort, he's got to be a good chance, for sure."

A two-time winner at Happy Valley, Ninja Derby has again drawn the widest gate in 12.

Forever Glorious, also a two-time Valley winner, will make his stable debut for Crawford in the second section of the Class Four Hung Luen Handicap (1,650m) on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, champion galloper Romantic Warrior continued his comeback from injury with a strong second to Stunning Peach in a 1,600m turf trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday.

Danny Shum Chap-shing's superstar is set to return from a left fore fetlock injury that required surgery in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) next month.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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2025-10-14T12:23:19Z