Trainer Alvin Tan will be chasing his first Group 1 success when Speedy Cat lines-up in the final Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series, the $500,000 Lion City Cup over 1200m on Sunday.

The four-year-old son of Scaredee Cat provided Tan with his biggest success to date when he took out the first Leg of the series, the Group 3 Merlion Trophy over 1200m on March 15.

Tan elected to miss the second Leg of the series, the Group 3 Kranji Sprint over 1200m on April 5, which was taken out by El Milagro, one of his opponents on Sunday.

Speedy Cat was given a break following his latest victory and Tan said a forward showing on Sunday would see the gelding press on for a start in the International Group 1 $1 million KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m on May 19.

“I’m very happy with him and importantly he’s still showing improvement as a four-year-old,” said Tan.

“This is a very strong field that he is meeting on Sunday but there looks to be some good pace in the race with El Milagro and Emerald Hill which should set a good pace for him.

“It’s just a pity the race is on the short course rather than the long course. The extra distance in the straight would help his finishing burst.

“Unfortunately we have to take what we are given.”

Following his last start victory in the Merlion Trophy, Tan said Speedy Cat was rested in the paddock behind his stable for a week and then spent another week swimming.

By the time he was due to start some more work, Tan sent the gelding to the uphill track to do some conditioning work before making his way back to the main track over the past two weeks.

“I brought him back to the main training track about two weeks ago and he has been very fresh,” said Tan.

“The feedback that I have been getting from my work rider is that he is more keen and there is more power there as well.

“We will see how he runs this week and hopefully then we can go on to the KrisFlyer. We will try and keep him fresh for that race as well.

“I like to give my horses a bit of a break after they race, so I won’t do too much with him until a week before the KrisFlyer.”

Tan said Speedy Cat had put on weight since his Merlion Trophy victory and he was anxious to keep that weight on him.

Speedy Cat weighed 488kg when successful in the Merlion Trophy and was 495kg when victorious first-up back in January.

“I like to keep him between 490 and 500 kg and that is where he is at the moment,” said Tan. “He has been maintaining his weight well with his work of late.”

Manoel Nunes, who won the Merlion Trophy on the gelding, again takes the mount on Sunday.

He has partnered the gelding in trackwork recently and said the four-year-old feels in good order.

“He feels really good,” said Nunes. “He feels fresh and very keen in his work and also very strong.

“Hopefully there will be good pace in the race as I think he will be very strong at the finish, especially as he has some form at 1400m.

“If the race was on the long course then I would be a lot happier.”