Subterranean is such a relaxed character around the stable that getting him fit can be hard work.
As a result, his fresh record is only average but he has a tendency to improve quickly with a run under his belt.
That is the scenario the horse finds himself in when he tackles the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) second-up at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
“The reason is he’s so casual, he does nothing at home,” trainer Matt Dunn said of his first-up record, which has yielded one placing from three attempts.
“He just floats around and does his thing. He’s not a horse who brings himself up quickly because he doesn’t spend energy doing anything except what he has to do.
“Once he starts to sneak up in distance he gets better too.”
A Group 3 winner during the Brisbane winter carnival, Subterranean has been the flagbearer for his sire Rebel Dane, who produced great results in his first season despite limited opportunities.
He was beaten less than two lengths when fourth to Tiger Of Malay first-up in the Up And Coming Stakes in an effort that satisfied both Dunn and jockey Hugh Bowman, who has stuck with him.
“We purposely went back from a difficult barrier and he got no space in the straight,” Dunn said.
“There wasn’t the tempo to allow horses to win from where he was trying to come from, but he was good. He probably peaked 100 out because he had to make such a long run.
“He’s improved. His fitness is better now going into this and he’s in really good shape.”
Subterranean has again come up with a tricky draw and will jump from barrier seven in the nine-horse field.
However, he does meet Ming Dynasty favourite Coastwatch 2.5kg better after finishing 1-3/4 lengths behind him in the Up And Coming Stakes.
Dunn also expects the extra 100m of Saturday’s race to play into Subterranean’s hands as he heads towards the better middle-distance three-year-old races, culminating in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in October.
Subterranean will be one of three Kembla Grange runners for Dunn, along with consistent sprinter Broken Arrows and the in-form Soami, who Dunn is excited to see step up to Saturday company.
“He’s not just winning, he’s winning really well,” Dunn said of Soami.
“His last run, I thought we were in a bit of trouble when we got shuffled back on the point of the turn but he was far too good for those horses.
“He’s a happy horse, he’s racing well and there’s no reason why he can’t carry it through to Saturday grade.”
Soami has won six of his 19 starts and is by So You Think, whose progeny are usually late maturers.
