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Three-year-old Speedy Cat kept his unbeaten record intact when successful in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C over 1100m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden by regular partner John Powell, Speedy Cat scored by two-and-a-half lengths over Indulge (Alan Ng) with Happy Ending (Barend Vorster) two lengths away third.
Trainer Alvin Tan said Speedy Cat would now be aimed at the Group 3 $200,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint over 1200m on March 30.
The race forms a part of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge which also comprises the Group 2 $350,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge over 1400m next month and the Group 1 $500,000 Singapore Guineas over 1600m in May.
Trainer Alvin Tan said he would give Speedy Cat a slight break before he lines-up in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint.
“The race is almost four weeks away and that will give me the chance to get his weight back up,” said Tan. “His weight was down today.
“I will give him a bit of a break now, get the weight back on and then train him up for the race.”
Speedy Cat made it four straight wins with his success but Tan was worried about the 8kg weight loss the gelding had following his last start success on February 12.
Instead of showing the usual speed from the barriers and leading, Speedy Cat didn't jump as keenly and Powell elected to settle the gelding in fourth position.
Dragon Gate (Saifudin Ismail) and Indulge shared a good speed with Pint Sized Prince (Greg Cheyne) and Speedy Cat next in line.
Powell was content to bide his time on the $5.30 favourite and waited until entering the straight to set sail after the leaders.
After a short struggle with the runner-up, Speedy Cat showed his superiority and drew clear over the final 150m for a convincing win.
“I was a little worried with how he jumped from the barriers,” said Powell.
“It was my intention to go and try and lead, but when he didn't begin that well I was happy to be fourth and one out.
“It did show another side to him today in that he can relax behind the speed.
“I did say to Alvin after his last start that I thought he may be looking for further than 1200m, so to come back to 1100m and win like he did was certainly a very good effort.”
Powell said Speedy Cat deserved his chance in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge as the gelding has done everything right in his four starts to date.
“He should be competitive in the series but there are some very nice horses that he will be up against,” said Powell.
“Horses like Super Easy, Better Life, Shuttle Man and today's winner Masthead are all very smart but he did carry plenty of weight today so we'll see how this bloke measures up when he lines-up against them during the series.”
A New Zealand-bred by Scaredee Cat from the Magic Of Sydney mare Lane Cove, Speedy Cat has won around $150,000 in prizemoney from his four victories for the Alwin Stable.