Emphatically dispelling stamina doubts, Little Paradise surged to a devastating victory in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (1 February) to underline imposing credentials for the remainder of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Trained by Jimmy Ting, who won this race on Industrialist in 2000 when it was known as the Hong Kong Classic Trial, and ridden by Vincent Ho, Little Paradise weaved his way through the field over the final 300m, before explosively accelerating to a two-length margin over Infinite Resolve, with a further half-length back to Beauty Bolt, in 1m 33.31s.

Sagacious Life finished fourth after a three-wide trip from barrier 13, while Top Dragon finished solidly for fifth.

Settling in tenth place, Little Paradise was given a patient ride by Ho – who won the Hong Kong Classic Mile in 2020 as part of Golden Sixty’s clean sweep of the series – before being initially blocked for a run at the top of the straight.

Ho changed direction twice in search of clear running before Little Paradise stormed to his sixth win from nine starts – clocking a searing 22.51 for the final 400m, and 11.16s for the closing 200m – while giving the impression the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March are well within his grasp.

Ho believes Little Paradise’s laidback disposition will allow the Toronado gelding to cope with 1800m and beyond.

“Today, he relaxed very well and at the top of the straight, I was looking to come out and I could see Zac in the three-wide position (on Sagacious Life) and for some time I needed to hold him back because the horse in front of me wasn’t going anywhere, but luckily we ended up having room to track Zac up and move to his outside,” Ho said.

“Once I pressed the button, he just kicked it. He finished off very well, so he can definitely handle a mile without a problem, and I told Jimmy even for 1800m, he will also produce that sort of kick as long as we relax him early.

“So, I’m looking forward to the (Hong Kong) Classic Cup and the (BMW Hong Kong) Derby. I’m very grateful for the support I’ve had in coming back from injury and to win the (Hong Kong) Classic Mile is encouraging and I’m always grateful for everything.

“Little Paradise is a very nice horse. The main thing stepping up to the mile for him was to relax no matter what and I didn’t rush him because we couldn’t and we know he has a really good turn of foot from his last run.

“He’s a really flexible horse as well. If the pace is slow, he can be very close to the speed and still give you a give turn of foot when you ask him. So, he’s a really nice horse to handle.  Also, thanks to Jimmy and (owner) Mr Ko for the opportunity.”

Celebrating the most important success of his training career, Ting said: “He’s a very good horse, but at the last 300m I got a bit scared because he got stuck (behind runners) but when he got a gap, Vincent Ho said he was flying home. He’s a very good horse. It’s fantastic.”

John Size vaulted into fifth place in the trainers’ championship with 24 wins after firing in a treble. The 13-time Hong Kong champion trainer unveiled promising talent Master Lucky (127lb), who landed the Class 4 Clear Water Bay Handicap (1000m) under Dylan Browne McMonagle, before Zac Purton piloted Crossborderdude (128lb) to victory in the second section of the Class 4 Lam Tsuen Handicap (1200m).

Size completed an excellent meeting when BMW Hong Kong Derby nominee Super Express (121lb) claimed the Class 3 Yan Chau Tong Handicap (1400m) under Maxime Guyon.

Mark Newnham fielded four runners in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, finishing second with Infinite Resolve, sixth with Invincible Ibis, 11th with Crimson Flash and 13th with Winfield but the Australian horseman scored at the meeting when another BMW Hong Kong Derby entrant, Lucky Sam Gor (120lb), landed the Class 3 Kat O Handicap (1600m) for Jerry Chau.

Francis Lui’s blistering form continued with the victory of Hong Kong International Sale graduate Patch Of Theta (135lb) in the Class 1 Mirs Bay Handicap (1400m) under Hugh Bowman. The Zoustar gelding nudged through a narrow gap late to claim Drombeg Banner (116lb) and Light Years Charm (132lb) to give Lui 11 winners from the past 10 meetings and 22 for the campaign.

Lui will consider a tilt at Ka Ying Rising in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on 22 February for Patch Of Theta.

“It was a good performance, we will look towards the Queen’s Silver Jubilee (Cup) on February 22, but I will need to consider it fully,” he said. “The jockey knows him well and the horse is a very honest one. The pace was not that slow and that was my worry – if they slowed down the pace, he would have fought with Hugh and would not have finished.”

A rising star on the international stage, Irishman McMonagle posted a double when Ricky Yiu’s Blazing Wukong (135lb) overcame gate 12 to prevail in the Class 4 Long Valley Handicap (1600m), while Happy Shooter (123lb), another Hong Kong International Sale graduate, broke through for his first victory in the first section of the Class 4 Lam Tsuen Handicap (1200m) for Danny Shum and Lyle Hewitson.

David Hall slotted a double with Shotgun (130lb) in the Class 5 Kiu Tsui Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Poon and Rising Phoenix (131lb) for James Orman in the Class 4 Robin’s Nest Handicap (1400m), before Poon also sealed a brace when Michael Chang’s Glowing Praise (125lb) surprised at 31/1 and claimed a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million with victory in the Class 3 Hoi Ha Handicap (1000m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday (4 February) with the conclusion of the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge.