In the fifth instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, attention turns to Jimmy Ting’s rising star, Little Paradise. With the first leg of the prestigious 2025/26 Four-Year-Old Classic Series—the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile over 1600m—just two weeks away on 1 February, and the 149th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) scheduled for 22 March, Little Paradise’s mark of 95 positions him among the highest-rated four-year-olds in the city.
The Jimmy Ting-trained gelding will line up among the favourites for the Classic Mile. While the mile distance is a step up from his usual trips, owner Ko Kam Piu is no stranger to this elite contest, having finished fifth in the 2011 edition with Little Bridge, who went on to win at Group One level.
By Toronado—sire of 2024 Hong Kong Classic Mile and Classic Cup winner Helios Express—Little Paradise was purchased for AU$270,000 (around HK$1.4 million) at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He began his career with two unbeaten Class 4 1200m wins before experiencing narrow defeats in Class 3 at the end of his debut season.
This season, Little Paradise returned to Class 3 for a win before finishing a close second over 1400m under a top weight in November. However, the talented four-year-old has since thrived, producing a decisive victory in a 1400m Class 3 race under 135lb in December and then dominating the Class 2 Racing Club Cup at Sha Tin on 11 January.
Ridden by Zac Purton, Little Paradise settled in midfield along the rail before being angled out in the home straight to record a commanding win in Class 2 company on debut at this level. “He’s a nice horse. I had confidence he could measure up in Class 2,” said Ting after the one-length success.
Ting believes Little Paradise can handle the step up to 1600m. “I think he can handle the mile, and the horse is improving. At this stage, I think his best distance will be 1600m. One thing is that maybe at the 1600m the pace is a bit slower and he will need to learn to calm down at the back of the field.”
With Zac Purton riding Sagacious Life for the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Vincent Ho has been booked to partner Little Paradise. Ting hopes the gelding can continue his development through the Classic Cup (1800m) and the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). “At this stage, I don’t know yet, but I think the horse could handle the longer distances because he is a quiet horse. Hopefully he can.”
Among other four-year-olds making waves, Patch Of Cosmo strengthened his Classic Mile credentials with a strong comeback win at Sha Tin on Sunday, returning from a tendon injury to claim the Class 3 Tennis 1600m Handicap and boosting his rating to 84. Akashvani also impressed at Sha Tin, and his rating of 82 positions him as a contender once the Classic Mile priority draws are released later this week.
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