Alvin Tan spent five years (from 2002 to 2006) in Kentucky where the former Air Force regular started from scratch as a “hotwalker” before learning the fine art of horse-training with John Ward, Murray Johnson and Don Bernard. Following a job offer from Kranji trainer Hideyuki Takaoka, Tan returned to Singapore in 2006 with an assistant-trainer’s licence. He then joined trainer Sam Chua for another two years before finally branching out on his own in December 2009. Tan enjoyed his best season at his second year in 2010 when he saddled 38 winners to finish 11th on the Singapore trainer’s premiership. He captured his first “black type” win in March 2013 when SPEEDY CAT won the Group 3 Merlion Trophy on Polytrack. The same horse kept the ball rolling three months later when he took out the Group 2 Stewards' Cup.