South African trainer Brett Crawford has quickly made his presence felt in Hong Kong racing. In his debut season, he has already guided 18 winners from 58 meetings, maintaining an impressive first-three strike rate of 29.27%. Since beginning as a dual-site trainer last September, Crawford has embraced Conghua’s facilities, describing them as “important to my stable operation.”
“At the beginning of the season, we already arranged some of our horses in Conghua,” Crawford recalled. “I was deeply impressed with the racecourse. The facilities are state-of-the-art – excellent stables with good ventilation, plus rehabilitation and training amenities like swimming pools, aqua walkers and treadmills. There’s so much available to help bring out the best in each horse.”
Crawford’s experience managing horses between Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa prepared him well for Hong Kong’s dual-site system. Six of his 10 victories since the start of January have come from horses prepared at Conghua prior to their last start, a testament to the venue’s contribution to his early success.
Mr Incredible, the three-year-old Toronado gelding, was Crawford’s latest Conghua-trained winner, taking victory on his Hong Kong debut on 15 March. “There’s more space, more variety, and it allows horses to break free from the routine of Hong Kong,” Crawford said. “We rotate our horses regularly so each one gets the chance to train there. Some even remain based in Conghua, only travelling to Hong Kong to race before returning.”
He added that Conghua is particularly beneficial for young horses, giving them more opportunities to exercise on turf before racing in Hong Kong. Win Speed is another horse that has shown improvement after training in Conghua, looking “happier and much better” after returning to the main base.
Other recent winners benefiting from Conghua preparation include Gor Gor, Sovereign Fund, Island Buddy, Speedy Smartie, and Lovero, who has also placed three times this term. Crawford emphasizes the importance of recovery and mental wellbeing for his horses. “Hong Kong has a tough season from the beginning of September right through to the middle of July. The more you can give them the opportunity to recover from races, the better they perform. Conghua gives us that opportunity. A happy horse will always do its best for you.”
Looking ahead, Crawford is confident Conghua will establish itself as a strong racing venue. “It’s a fair, even track, and I believe it will prove to be an excellent stage for racing.”
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