Jimmy Ting’s long road back to the Hong Kong Classic Mile came full circle on Sunday at Sha Tin when four-year-old Little Paradise surged late to win the Classic Mile and put his trainer on the verge of a fairytale – 26 years after Ting won the same race as a jockey.
Ting had never saddled a runner in the Classic Mile, but he won its earlier version in 2000 aboard Industrialist, a day that stood as the highlight of his 15-year riding career. On Sunday he made a triumphant return, this time from the training ranks, with Vincent Ho delivering a patient ride and letting Little Paradise’s turn of foot decide it.
Ho said the step up to a mile was always going to hinge on one thing – relaxation – and he rode accordingly, settling behind midfield rather than forcing the issue.
“The main thing, stepping up to the mile for him is to relax during the race, no matter what,” Ho said. “I sort of behind midfield, didn’t rush him… and we know he had a really good turn of foot from last run.”
Ho said he felt the horse’s quality immediately in the lead-up after riding him twice in trackwork.
“Straight away, go up to the canter, I already felt like he is a very nice horse,” Ho said. “He is a really flexible horse as well. If pace is slow, can be very close to the speed and he still give you a good turn of foot when you ask him.”
Little Paradise had to wait for momentum near the top of the straight when Ho felt the runner in front of him wasn’t improving, but once he was able to shift and build, the response was decisive.
“Once I pressed the button, he just kicked,” Ho said. “So we made it and he finished off very well.”
The win was significant on a personal level for Ho, who missed the final six months of last season after serious head and neck injuries. He said time away from the saddle has changed how he absorbs wins, even the routine ones.
“Every winner I appreciate a lot more than before because of that,” Ho said.
The result also sets up Little Paradise as a leading candidate for the remaining legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, with the Classic Cup over 1800 meters on March 1 and the BMW Hong Kong Derby over 2000 meters on March 22 to come. Ho said the horse would keep producing the same kick over further as long as he continues to settle early.
The race also came with a sting in the tail for leading jockey Zac Purton.
Purton had chosen to ride Sagacious Life over a list of contenders that included Little Paradise, leaving Ho to pick up the mount. Post-race, Ho ran through the thank-yous – owner, trainer – then smiled.
“And Zac Purton… for not riding him.”
Purton was scathing about Sagacious Life’s performance, who was fourth.
“One word, terrible,” Purton said. “I thought he had a beautiful run from the draw and he didn’t turn up.”
Trainer Mark Newnham was thrilled with runner-up Infinite Resolve, who earned a Classic Cup berth with a top-three finish, and was forgiving of beaten favorite Invincible Ibis, who ran sixth.
“I think he just had too much to do from where he ended up in the run,” Newnham said of invicnible Ibis. “He has done well enough to keep progressing. We will keep going to the 1800 and look at the Derby after that.”
