The first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series in Hong Kong was run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) going to Toronado (IRE) gelding Little Paradise, who has a half-brother headed to Inglis Easter.
The Jimmy Ting trained Little Paradise came into the race with five wins and two placings from his previous seven starts and was trying the 1600m for the first time.
Ridden patiently early by Vincent Ho, he weaved his way through the field over the final 300m, before explosively accelerating to a two-length margin over another Aussie bred Infinite Resolve with the clock stopped at 1m 33.31s.
The closing splits and strength at the finish of Little Paradise give 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.
“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.”
Little Paradise was sourced from Inglis Classic for $270,000 by Dullingham (Chris McAnulty) / Legend Bloodstock (Bond Li).
It is the third time in the last four years that the first leg of the Hong Kong 4YO Series has been won by an Inglis graduate following the victories of Voyage Bubble (2023) and Helios Express (2024), who is also by Toronado.
Little Paradise was offered by Wayne and Pauline Alchin’s Carramar Park on behalf of their son Tim, who bred him.
He was purchased by the combination of Chris McAnulty (Dullingham) and Bond Li (Legends Bloodstock) for $270,000.
It was a dream result for Tim Alchin, who had bought his dam Devil In Her Heart carrying Little Paradise for just $27,500 on Inglis Digital in February 2021.
Both Chris McAnulty and Tim Alchin were trackside at Sha Tin to witness the victory.
“For him to be where he was on the home corner and to still win like he did, is pretty unbelievable,” McAnulty said.
“It is immensely gratifying for Bond and myself to have identified Little Paradise as a yearling and to see him go on and win a domestic G1 in Hong Kong.
“The idea was always to trade him to Hong Kong, we purchased him from Inglis Classic and sent him to Bjorn Baker at Warwick Farm and once he won his trial at his first outing, Jimmy Ting came and looked at the horse and had a client ready to buy.”
For trainer Jimmy Ting – who won the Hong Kong Classic Mile as a jockey 26 years ago – it was a dream come true.
“This is my dream and it’s come true, I’m so happy for the owner – he’s a very lucky owner,” said Ting.
“What a perfect win, I didn’t think before the race he would win so easily and that last 300m I was thinking oh no can he get a run - but when he got clear it was all over.”
Tim Alchin was almost speechless after the race and said it meant so much to his family at Carramar Park.
“This is my first trip to Hong Kong, I’ve always wanted to visit and this felt like the perfect excuse – win or lose – and I just can’t describe the feeling… for a smaller stud this is just unreal,” Alchin said.
“My partner Georgia and I arrived on Thursday and this whole build up has been incredible, then to watch the race unfold when he couldn’t find a gap then burst through the middle, it’s hard to describe the feeling, my heart was popping out of my chest!
“He is the first horse I’ve ever sold myself and to see that foal become a G1 winner in Hong Kong is something everyone dreams about.
“My dad Wayne loves Inglis Digital and can’t wait to celebrate with him and mum at Warwick Farm this week at inspections, we fly out tomorrow and will head straight to Riverside.”
Little Paradise is the latest stakes-winner in a very successful female family being the first winner for Devil in Her Heart, an unraced half-sister by Star Witness to Group winners Olentia, Wandabaa and stakes-winner Malkovich.
It’s the Asawir branch of the famed Easy Date family and both Olentia and Wandabaa have been retired to stud.
Olentia sold for $2.6million to Wathnan Racing in a Magic Millions Virtual Sale last year and has now been exported to the UK, while Wandabaa was snapped up by Yulong for $800,000 via an Inglis Digital boutique sale.
Yulong sold a yearling filly by Tagaloa from Wandabaa for $400,000 at Magic Millions this year.
Devil in Her Heart has a yearling colt by Farnan that will be offered as Lot 268 in the Carramar Park draft at Inglis Easter and she went to Shinzo last year after slipping to King’s Legacy the year before.
Little Paradise is the 47th stakes-winner for Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE), who had a late start to the breeding season last spring due to injury, but recovered to serve 83 mares at a fee of $88,000.
