Third behind You'll Be Mist when on debut at the Sunshine Coast on November 21, the Matthew Dunn-trained Subterranean left that filly in her wake over 1200 metres at Doomben on Saturday to credit the former top-class sprinter Rebel Dane with his first winner.
Given a positive ride by Michael Cahill, Subterranean travelled sweetly on the outside of the pacesetting Shajaea.
When given her head at the 300 metres, Subterranean was in a race of her own of the final 100 metres to defeat the Charm Spirit gelding Collay's Spirit by three and a quarter lengths with the Headwater filly, You'll Be Mist, a short-half-head back in third after a torrid run.
"He's a nice little progressive horse. He's got the right attitude and was broken-in and educated by Rick Worthington before he passed away," Dunn said.
"It is a pretty good head start when he comes from a place like that.
Dunn said Rebel Dane is the image of his sire, Rebel Dane.
"I sometimes get nervous stepping two-year-olds up to 1200 metres at this time of the season, but he dealt with it as we had hoped. I think the exciting thing is that he has plenty of maturing to go and he is certain to improve.
"He is not (Magic Millions eligible), but there are other things to look for. I might even put him on a truck to Sydney as things heat up here, but I don't want to push him too hard."
A homebred for Steve Grant and Kenny Lowe, Subterranean is the first foal of the former Darley colour-bearer Caves who won once for Anthony Freedman before being sold at the 2013 Inglis August Thoroughbred Sale where she was purchase by trainer Danny Curran for $4,500.
In a 57 start career, she had four wins and 21 placings with earnings of over $97,000.
The dam of Caves, From The Cellar (Hennesy), won four of her 24 starts including a pair at Canterbury for Guy Walter.
(Learn more about the pedigree of Subterranean here).
Caves has a yearling colt by Rebel Dane and a colt foal by Smart Missile.
Trained by Gary Portelli, Rebel Dane won twice at the highest level, in the MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and an emotional victory in the Mankato Stakes at Moonee Valley as a 7yo in 2016 after finishing fifth in the same race in 2013, fourth in 2014 and third behind Chautauqua and Srikandi in 2015.
The son of California Dane will have to do it the hard way at stud.
Rebel Dane covered just 36 mares in his first season, 31 in his second and only 11 in his third. After beginning at a fee of $12,500 at Swettenham Stud, he stood at an advertised fee of $5,000 at Glen Eden Stud in 2020.
