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Trainer Alvin Tan could not have wished for a better 44th birthday present after Speedy Cat returned to racing with victory in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A over 1200m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden by John Powell, Speedy Cat charged home to record a two-and-a-half length victory over Goal Keeper (Danny Beasley) with Excavator (Stephen Baster) a length-and-a-quarter away in third place.
The race was robbed of some of its intrigue when the unbeaten Emerald Hill was a late scratching from the event during the afternoon.
Captain Obvious (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) led from Goal Keeper in the early stages with Cash Dot Com (Tengku Rehaizat) and Speedy Cat next in line.
Beasley began to apply the pressure to Captain Obvious before the hometurn and the grey, who was having his first start since finishing near the tail of the field in Japan in September, was quickly beaten off and compounded to finish at the tail of the field.
Powell allowed Speedy Cat to improve his position before the hometurn and was within striking distance soon after straightening up.
Under his urgings Speedy Cat got the upperhand over the last 200m and drew clear for a comfortable win from the favourite.
Tan was worried that Speedy Cat was up 17kg in body weight prior to the race but Powell was less concerned as he said the gelding “felt a lot stronger”.
“John said to me before the race that the horse felt fantastic,” said Tan. “I was concerned he was up 17kg in body weight since the last time he raced.
“Hopefully now that he has come back in good form we can find some good races for him.
“After his last start we just gave him a break to freshen up. We gave him some swimming and took him to the uphill track for a change.”
Tan said he would aim at the Four-Year-Old Challenge with Speedy Cat – especially the opening two legs – the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup over 1400m and the Group 1 Patron’s Bowl over 1600m.
He said he would leave a decision on the final leg, the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby over 2000m until the first two legs had been completed.
“He’s won over 1400m before and he has run second to Better Life with a big weight over 1600m,” said Tan.
“We will consider running him in the Four-Year-Old Series with the first two legs worth looking at.
“And I had forgotten that it is my 44th birthday today, so this is a nice present for me.”
Powell said they didn’t go as fast as he had expected but added that it was a good win by Speedy Cat who has come back to racing in excellent order.
Although Speedy Cat was up 17kg in weight, Powell said it would be of benefit for him in this current campaign.
“I thought he was a bit too light last preparation,” said Powell. “Today he was up in weight but he felt really strong and there is a good race in him this time in.
“I said to Alvin to try and keep the weight on him and that will help him when he gets up over a bit more ground later on in the preparation.
“It’s good to see these good horses come back from a spell and show they haven’t lost any of their form.”
Speedy Cat is a New Zealand-bred four-year-old by Scaredee Cat from the Magic Of Sydney mare Lane Cove and has won six of his 13 starts and with a further seven minor placings has amassed over $400,000 in prizemoney for the Alwin Stable.