Could all three winners of this year’s Classic Series features add another layer of intrigue and excitement to the Group One Champions Mile on April 26?

That could certainly be the case with connections of Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Invincible Ibis, Classic Cup (1,800m) victor Stormy Grove and Classic Mile winner Little Paradise setting their sights on the HK$24 million feature.

The four-year-old series is the most talked about group of races in Hong Kong every year and is the launching pad for the city’s next generation of Group One contenders.

That could be put to the test on FWD Champions Day, with three of Hong Kong’s four highest-rated four-year-olds in the mix to clash with top milers such as Voyage Bubble and Japanese star Jantar Mantar.

Trainer Jimmy Ting Koon-ho confirmed his intention to start Little Paradise, a breathtaking winner of February’s Classic Mile, provided the 103-rated galloper makes the field of 14.

“After the Derby I gave him a little bit of a break – a week off – and now he’s back into work and everything’s fine. I hope he will run at the end of this month,” Ting said.

“It might be a bit hard to get in – maybe his rating isn’t high enough. It also depends on the horse’s health and his form. If he doesn’t get in, he will to go the Class Two 1,400m that day and then the Lion Rock Trophy [on May 31].”

Zac Purton could regain the ride on Little Paradise after he hopped off him and several other rides to team with Sagacious Life in the Classic Mile.

Vincent Ho Chak-yiu was his replacement, steering Little Paradise to a phenomenal triumph before he had excuses in the Classic Cup and failed to run out 2,000m in the Derby.

Stormy Grove won over a mile before his fast-finishing Classic Cup success and third in the Derby, while Mark Newnham prefers dropping Invincible Ibis back in trip rather than taking on Romantic Warrior and a strong cast of internationals in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m).

With Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising boasting strong holds on two of the three Champions Day Group Ones, the Champions Mile shapes as the most open of the elite-level features this year.

Overseas fixed-odds markets have Jantar Mantar and Voyage Bubble as the only two runners in single figures and there are question marks over the latter, given his uncharacteristic flop in the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) last start.

Hong Kong gallopers have dominated the race, notching nine straight wins since Japan’s Maurice was victorious in 2016, but the city’s current mile ranks pose more questions than answers.

Sosie a certain QE II starter

While last year’s Longines World’s Best Racehorse Calandagan isn’t expected to make the trip to Hong Kong, the QE II Cup is still shaping as a mouth-watering contest.

Romantic Warrior will bid for a record-extending fourth win in the race but will face stiff international opposition, headlined by Japanese duo Masquerade Ball and Museum Mile and France’s Sosie.

Andre Fabre has confirmed Sosie, who won December’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) at Sha Tin, will return to Hong Kong for the QE II, while British-based Group One victor Royal Champion will also be set for the race.

Japan’s QE II team is also expected to feature the likes of Shin Emperor and Giovanni, who will be ridden by Australian-based Kiwi jockey Jason Collett.