Little Paradise Returns to Winning Ways in Premier Cup

Little Paradise returned to the winner’s circle with a deserved victory in the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) thanks to a super steer from Zac Purton at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained galloper proved his credentials with a decisive win by two lengths over Infinite Resolve in February’s Classic Mile, but was unable to repeat the feat in the following legs of the four-year-old series.

Returning to Sha Tin for the first time following an eight-week break after a luckless run in the Group One Champions Mile, the son of Toronado was back in form with an impressive performance in Group Three company.

Settling midfield one off the rail, Purton moved to follow Winning Ovation three wide near the home bend. After making his run wider after turning, outsider Lucky With You pinched a break at the 200m with Little Paradise able to wear him down. Galaxy Patch was the eye-catcher, having his first start for the Brett Crawford stable and rocketing from last to run second by a neck.

In a fortunate week for connections, Purton had carried the same lilac and gold silks to victory when riding Little Bridge to glory in the 2012 Group One King’s Stand Stakes (1,000m) at Royal Ascot for owner Ko Kam-piu.

“It’s obviously a lucky week for myself and the connections, so it’s good,” Purton said.

“[Ting] has been turning the horse out as well as he can. I’m just happy for him today that the horse got a nice clean run and was able to show what he can do. He probably wasn’t at his best today after having that break and just the one trial coming in to it and he ran good time. So, I think next season, with a break, there’s every chance he could take another step.”

Adding to an impressive tally of six wins from 12 career starts, Ting was thrilled with the result, with the four-year-old well set up for victory with the benefit of Purton’s services and carrying 120lb from barrier four – albeit not at peak fitness due to the break.

“After the [Champions] Mile he was a bit tired, so I gave him a short break and then I talked to the owner and said that maybe we run him in this race. The owner highly recommended to run in this race, so we’re lucky that we could win,” Ting said.

“I think the fitness was only 90 per cent because after the race he was a bit tired. It’s lucky that his form is coming up, and he got a good draw and a good jockey. The 1,400m was suitable for him and he got a light weight, and that’s why he could win. He scared me because the last 50m I think that he was a bit tired, so he nearly lost.

“I hope that after the break he gets a little bit of improvement, and hopefully the target will be to run in the [Hong Kong] Mile. I still think that 1,400m or 1,600m is the best distance for this horse, and I hope that he will improve.”

The victory of Little Paradise was the second leg of a running double for the Purton and Ting partnership following the win of Come Fast Fay Fay, with Purton going on to enjoy a treble courtesy of the Jamie Richards-trained Chicken Dinner.

Meanwhile, apprentice Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu and Ricky Yiu Poon-fai celebrated a double in tandem with Rapid Phantom and Packing Glory.

Yuen has now ridden 12 winners since officially beginning her tenure on the Hong Kong jockey’s roster on April 1 and is eight wins away from having her claim reduced from 10lb to 7lb.

“I’m so glad to have ridden a double; riding one for the boss makes it especially meaningful,” Yuen said.

Cody Mo Wai-kit also secured a double thanks to Absolute Heart and Flying Knight.