Brett Crawford continued his strong start to life in Hong Kong with his first Happy Valley double, while Caspar Fownes shot up to second in the trainers’ championship with a brace of his own on Wednesday evening.

Ninja Derby was Crawford’s first winner in Hong Kong on a day where he secured a double at Sha Tin in September and he struck again for the South African trainer in the Class Five Tai Lam Chung Handicap (1,800m).

There was never a moment's worry for his backers, with Lyle Hewitson taking up the lead early and always holding the aces despite the petrol gauge flashing in the final 100m.

“Last time Lyle said himself he didn’t quite ride the correct race – he sat a little far back. But that was just because we were a bit worried the 1,800m was a bit far for him. I do think it’s his maximum distance. Even today you could see in the last bit he’d had enough,” said Crawford.

“Today he was given a good ride. He broke well, put him in a great position, dictated the race and skipped at the right time – well done to him.”

Things got even better for Crawford two races later when his relationship with Karis Teetan once again bore fruit when Genius Baby won section one of the Class Four Tai Tam Handicap (1,200m).

Unlucky on his most recent start, Genius Baby had to be brave to peek his head through a narrowing gap in the straight, but he proved equal to the task and was a cosy length winner.

“Last time when he went for his run the gap closed up on him and broke his momentum. At Happy Valley, it’s a difficult place to gain momentum once it’s broken,” said Crawford.

“Today Karis had him in a good position but turning for home he still got into a little bit of a tight gap. Between Karis and the horse, I think it was very brave to get through and he quickened up really well to win a nice race.

“It has obviously been really good. I couldn’t be happier – coming into a new place, new environment, obviously being given some nice support, which is key to anything.”

Perfect General also cemented himself as a horse to follow with a dominant performance in the Class Four American Club Challenge Cup (1,200m) under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu on a night where Fownes wrestled second off David Hayes in the trainers’ title race.

Off the track since June, Fownes’ galloper had been trialling well in the lead-up and made a mockery of his rivals despite the lay-off and the burden of barrier 11.

Always travelling ominously well on the shoulder of leader Same To You, Ho got stuck into his mount at the 200m pole and the pair soon scampered away to win with much more authority than the length margin suggests.

“He’s been off for a long time so it was great for him to do that first up. We certainly weren’t helped by the draw but he’s a nice horse and we just decided to push on and make our own luck,” said Fownes.

“The key now is that they pull up well – if they do then you know you’ve got a very good horse moving forward. I believe he’s got what it takes to compete in the higher classes.”

Fownes completed his double when the Ellis Wong Chi-wang-ridden Joy Of Spring was a cosy winner of the Class Three High Island Handicap (1,800m).

Meanwhile, Double Win lived up to his name after breaking his maiden at the 18th attempt at Sha Tin last month, quickly adding another in the Class Four Shek Lei Pui Handicap (2,200m) under Hollie Doyle.

There was also a second winner of the stint for Richard Kingscote, who caused the biggest boilover of the campaign so far when Blue Illusion got up late at a mammoth price of $98.40 in the Class Three Plover Cove Handicap (1,000m).

In Britain, Ryan Moore confirmed his fitness for next week’s Longines International Jockeys’ Championship with a pair of winners at Lingfield on his first rides since a broken femur sidelined him in August.