Jimmy Ting Koon-ho is hopeful a more calm Little Paradise can prove himself as a top Group One Hong Kong Mile contender when he returns in Sunday’s Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin.

Last season’s sensational Classic Mile winner and victor of the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) will launch his campaign in the HK$4.2 million feature, with December’s Hong Kong Mile his main target.

Little Paradise overcame trouble in running to record a jaw-dropping triumph in February’s Classic Mile, before he struck trouble again in the Classic Cup (1,800m) when eighth to Stormy Grove.

After failing to stay the 2,000m of the city’s biggest race, the Hong Kong Derby, the son of Toronado took on the city’s best milers but was unlucky again when 10th behind My Wish in the Group One Champions Mile.

He finished his four-year-old season with a stylish success in the Premier Cup over Group One performer Galaxy Patch in June.

Ting said his stable star matured in the off-season and is ready to make the leap to Group One level.

“The horse is good after the break. I just kept him happy and he went up to Conghua and to the paddock and he liked it,” Ting said.

“After two trials, his form is coming up – he’s not at the best, but I think it’s good enough for the early part of the season. I think he’s improving, he’s a bit more calm and he’s healthy.

“His body weight is the same – around 1,200-something, which is his best. He should run well and we will just focus on the mile. Step one is the Group Three 1,400m and then he’ll step up to the mile.”

Zac Purton will ride Little Paradise on Sunday and Ting said the gelding’s first-up run will help the champion jockey decide whether he also rides him in upcoming races.

The Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) on October 19 and Group Two BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile on November 22 are Little Paradise’s other targets in the lead-up to the Hong Kong Mile.

Purton was aboard Little Paradise in his most recent of two trials, in which he finished a short-head second on the Sha Tin dirt last week.

“It was a good trial. In the straight, it seemed that he was not coming up but when the outside horse came up, he was good. Hopefully he’s improved this season,” Ting said.

Little Paradise’s rivals on Sunday are Derby hero Invincible Ibis, multiple Group One placegetter Helios Express, Galaxy Patch, Patch Of Theta, Copartner Prance, Stormy Grove, Lucky With You and Soleil Fighter.