Jimmy Ting is putting a long-term goal to the test this Sunday (1 February) at Sha Tin, and the trainer remains hopeful the opportunity presented can become his greatest success.

Little Paradise is that chance. An explosive son of Toronado, the five-time winner has risen from Class 4 to Class 2 across eight starts, and takes aim at the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – the opening leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – a race Ting earmarked after his debut win over 1200m at Sha Tin on 30 March, 2025.  

“I hope he can run well. I’ve already planned nearly a whole year for this race. This has been in our minds since he won his first race,” Ting said. “We started preparing him back then to target the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.”

The exciting bay rates 95 in Hong Kong. He is owned by Ko Kam Piu, whose iconic light violet and gold silks sailed to a famous victory at Royal Ascot in 2012, worn by Zac Purton atop crack sprinter Little Bridge in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m). 

Purton, a three-time winner on Little Paradise, had first call this weekend, but opted to ride the 97-rated Sagacious Life, opening the door for Vincent Ho, who galloped Little Paradise on Saturday morning (24 January) in 53.9s (29.5, 24.4) on the dirt at Sha Tin.

“I was happy with his gallop. After the gallop, Vincent said ‘he’s a nice horse and he keeps improving’. It was for him to get to know the horse, and he will give him one more gallop on Wednesday (28 January),” Ting said.

Yet to race beyond 1400m, Ting believes Little Paradise will account for the stamina required in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, although the Four-Year-Old Classic Series’ remaining two legs – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March – are unknown.

“I think he is still improving. I hope he can keep going. Before his last race, I thought he could win, but I didn’t think he could win so easily. It exceeded my expectations. I think he can handle the mile, but I’m not sure how he will go further than it,” Ting said.

Ting, 53, has trained 200 winners in Hong Kong. He started out as an apprentice jockey in 1988, allocated to racing legend Brian Kan’s powerhouse stable. Ting’s biggest win as a trainer came in the 2021 G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) with Amazing Star at odds of 178/1. 

“I didn’t like to study, that was the main thing. It was a headache for me, so my father saw the newspaper and there was an advertisement with The Hong Kong Jockey Club. I applied and luckily, I got in, I was an apprentice for five years and then a senior rider for 10 more. Then I became an assistant trainer afterwards,” Ting said.

Ting was granted a full licence to train ahead of the 2018/19 season, which came after honing his skills under several of the city’s top trainers. Ting’s first runner, Triumphant Jewel, was his first winner in 2018 – a campaign during which he accrued 38 wins.

“I’ve enjoyed it. Brian Kan was a very nice trainer and he took care of all of the apprentice jockeys, his jockeys, his staff and everyone. I learnt a lot from him and many trainers – Michael Chang, Danny Shum, Francis Lui and David Hill,” Ting added.