Brett Crawford – The Winners ticking over in Hong Kong

Brett Crawford has made a seamless and successful transition to the fiercely competitive Hong Kong racing circuit for the 2025/2026 season. Arriving with a sterling resume that includes over 1,400 career winners and multiple Group 1 victories—including consecutive Durban July winners in 2023 and 2024, Brett was expected to make a significant impact in his debut season, and he has not disappointed.

Operating a dual-site stable utilizing both Sha Tin and the state-of-the-art facilities at Conghua, the seasoned horseman quickly built a reputation for bringing out the best in his runners. April 2026 yielded another two winners for his yard. However, the quality of these victories, delivered by Mugen and Mr Incredible, demonstrated exactly why his training methodologies are translating so well to the Asian racing stage.

The month kicked off with a remarkable rejuvenation project. On Monday, April 6, Brett pulled off what many local pundits considered one of the finest training feats of his debut season when Mugen stormed to victory in the Class Two Barker Handicap over 1,400 meters at Sha Tin. The Australian import had been battling a frustrating 652-day (yes, you read that correctly) winning drought. His form had significantly tapered off following a taxing Group One Sprinters Stakes defeat in Japan two years prior, and he eventually transferred to Brett from Pierre Ng’s stable.

Brett’s patient, methodical approach was key to unlocking Mugen’s old brilliance. Following a disappointing debut, Brett and his team took the gelding back to the stables, identified underlying physical issues, and carefully worked to resolve them. Sent off as 40/1 longshot, Mugen was given a masterful ride by Hugh Bowman. Dropped out to the rear of the field to save ground along the rail, Bowman bided his time before a gap opened inside the final 150 meters. Mugen unleashed a powerful turn of foot, charging down the luckless favorite, Winning Ovation, to score by a short head in a thrilling finish for owners The Infinitude Syndicate.

Mugen wins under a brilliant driving finish from Hugh Bowman

Later in the month, on Sunday, April 26, Brett found the winner’s enclosure again, this time on one of the biggest days of the Hong Kong season. Competing on the prestigious FWD Champions Day undercard, the stable saddled the highly promising three-year-old Mr Incredible. A well-bred Toronado gelding out of Samarmeteors, Mr Incredible had previously won on his Hong Kong debut in mid-March after spending significant time maturing at the Conghua training facility.

Despite a slightly unlucky sixth-place finish in his second start, Brett remained deeply confident in the youngster’s raw ability. Partnered with stable jockey Karis Teetan, Mr Incredible did not disappoint. Showing good gate speed, Karis utilised his inside draw perfectly, sitting comfortably on a solid tempo just behind the leaders.

As the field straightened for home, Karis angled the gelding into the clear and Mr Incredible quickened beautifully from just off the pace, putting the race to bed with absolute ease and hitting the line full of running for owner Allen Shi Lop Tak. Even James cracked a smile at the cameras after the race with Gwen, Karis, and Brett, who was quick to praise the horse, noting his natural talent and earmarking him as a possible long-term prospect for next season’s Graded races. 

Mr Incredible absolutely romps in just under the hands of Karis

While April 2026 may have put two tallies in Brett’s win column, the context of both victories speaks volumes about his horsemanship. Reviving a seasoned, physically troubled campaigner like Mugen requires immense patience and a keen eye for rehabilitation. Conversely, nurturing a young, high-ceiling talent like Mr Incredible highlights a strategic, forward-thinking approach to a horse’s career development.

As his debut Hong Kong season heads toward its closing months, Brett has firmly established his yard as a competitive force, successfully blending his extensive South African expertise with the rigorous demands of his new environment. Twenty winners in your first season with the backend of the season still to run is a wonderful achievement for a trainer having his debut season.