Little Paradise put any doubts about his stamina firmly to bed on Sunday at Sha Tin, delivering a stunning performance to win the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and stamp himself as a serious contender for the remainder of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Trained by Jimmy Ting—who previously won this race in 2000 with Industrialist when it was called the Hong Kong Classic Trial—and ridden by Vincent Ho, the Toronado gelding weaved through the field in the final 300 metres before powering clear to a two-length victory over Infinite Resolve, with Beauty Bolt another half-length back. The winning time was 1m 33.31s.

Sagacious Life finished fourth after a wide trip from barrier 13, while Top Dragon claimed fifth.

Settling towards the back of the field in tenth, Little Paradise was expertly handled by Ho—himself a Hong Kong Classic Mile winner in 2020 on Golden Sixty. After initially being blocked for a run at the top of the straight, Ho navigated the gelding around traffic twice before releasing him, allowing Little Paradise to sprint home with a breathtaking 22.51-second final 400m and 11.16-second closing 200m. The performance suggested both 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 within reach.

“Today he relaxed very well,” Ho said. “At the top of the straight, I had to hold him back because the horse in front wasn’t moving, but once I got space, he just kicked on. He can definitely handle a mile and, I believe, even 1800m as long as we keep him relaxed early. I’m grateful for the support coming back from injury, and winning the Classic Mile is very encouraging. He’s a really nice horse to handle, flexible, and with a great turn of foot.”

Ting, celebrating the biggest victory of his training career, added: “He’s a very good horse. At the last 300m I got a bit worried when he got stuck, but once he found a gap, Vincent said he was flying home. Fantastic.”

The meeting also highlighted other trainers in form. John Size vaulted into fifth in the trainers’ championship with 24 wins, firing a treble. Master Lucky (127lb) took the Class 4 Clear Water Bay Handicap (1000m) under Dylan Browne McMonagle, Crossborderdude (128lb) claimed the second section of the Class 4 Lam Tsuen Handicap (1200m) with Zac Purton aboard, and Super Express (121lb) won the Class 3 Yan Chau Tong Handicap (1400m) under Maxime Guyon.

Mark Newnham had four runners in the Classic Mile, finishing second with Infinite Resolve, sixth with Invincible Ibis, 11th with Crimson Flash, and 13th with Winfield, but celebrated a meeting winner when Lucky Sam Gor (120lb) landed the Class 3 Kat O Handicap (1600m) for Jerry Chau.

Francis Lui continued his remarkable run with Patch Of Theta (135lb) claiming the Class 1 Mirs Bay Handicap (1400m) under Hugh Bowman, marking 11 winners from the past ten meetings and 22 for the campaign. Lui is considering a tilt at Ka Ying Rising in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on 22 February for the Zoustar gelding.

Irishman Dylan Browne McMonagle also had a double, winning with Ricky Yiu’s Blazing Wukong (135lb) in the Class 4 Long Valley Handicap (1600m) and Happy Shooter (123lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Lam Tsuen Handicap (1200m) for Danny Shum.

David Hall added a brace with Shotgun (130lb) in the Class 5 Kiu Tsui Handicap (1200m) and Rising Phoenix (131lb) in the Class 4 Robin’s Nest Handicap (1400m). Matthew Poon also notched a double, with Glowing Praise (125lb) taking the Class 3 Hoi Ha Handicap (1000m) at 31/1 and claiming a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.