Brett Crawford is banking on a significant weight swing on Speed Dragon and return to Sha Tin to propel Encountered to victory in Sunday’s Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m).

A fast-finishing winner of the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) in November for Crawford, Encountered meets Speed Dragon 6lb better from their last clash when the latter bagged the Group Three January Cup (1,800m) at Happy Valley.

While Crawford felt his consistent galloper could have finished closer than fourth on that occasion, the South African handler is confident Encountered is better placed to strike in Sunday’s feature.

“It’s a small field and there’s obviously a bit of a turnaround in the weights with Speed Dragon after he beat us last time,” Crawford said.

“To be fair, I thought he maybe could have run a fraction better but in saying that, Speed Dragon was well suited. Speed Dragon beat him earlier at the Valley and then at the weights, we couldn’t beat him. But on Sunday, there’s a 6lb swing, so it should bring us a lot closer and I think he’ll run well.”

One of several stable transfers to salute for Crawford in his debut Hong Kong campaign, Encountered scored his first victory in two years when he finished powerfully to beat Happy Together in the Ladies’ Purse.

The seven-year-old was also placed on his first two starts for Crawford at the Valley, but the return to Sha Tin on Sunday is a positive in his trainer’s eyes.

“I personally think he’s a better horse at Sha Tin over 1,800m. He’s at a point in his life where he takes a bit of time to unwind and at the Valley, if they’re not running at a good tempo it can catch him out a bit, so I think he’ll be better suited,” Crawford said.

Encountered jumps from the outside gate in the field of seven and will be ridden by Karis Teetan. Straight Arron, Beauty Joy, Chancheng Glory, Ensued and Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hope Numbers round out the field.

In the midst of a strong first season in the city with 13 victories, Crawford has six other runners on Sunday including last-start winners Speedy Smartie and Island Buddy.

Speedy Smartie, who has been Crawford’s flag-bearer with three wins this term, will bid to overcome a 10lb penalty for his dominant last-start performance when he tackles the Class Four Lung Yat Handicap (1,200m) on the dirt.

“I thought his last run was really big,” Crawford said of Speedy Smartie’s romp by almost five lengths last month.

“He did get 10lb for it, so that might be a telling sign but from a well-being point of view, he’s well. He keeps raising his game.”

Island Buddy was plunged on his stable debut and delivered for his backers with an all-the-way success. He will be out to repeat that performance in Sunday’s Class Four Yan Oi Tong Cup (1,200m).

“He was working well leading up to his win and I thought he ran a good race. He seems to have come out of it well, so hopefully he can maintain his form,” Crawford said.

Crawford’s other runners are Good Prospect, Shinyu Kokoroe, Win Speed and Dreaming Together, who makes his Hong Kong debut in the Class Three Yan Tin Handicap (1,400m) off the back of an impressive recent trial.

“I think the trip’s going to be on the short side for him. We are looking to put him over further but he’s got to start somewhere,” Crawford said of the import, who won three of his 11 starts in Australia and competed in Group races when known as Detroit City.

“He’s done a lot of things right and he’s improved with each trial. I’m just hoping he can run a nice race and if he were to run a couple of lengths off them on debut I’d be happy.”