Up-and-coming stayer The Underbelly continued his rapid rise with a dominant front-running performance in Saturday’s New World Otaki New Zealand St Leger Trial (2300m) at Otaki, booking himself a ticket to a time-honoured feature at Trentham next month.

The Robbie Patterson-trained five-year-old has now won seven of his 14 career starts, and he has been unbeaten and increasingly impressive in his last four appearances dating back to a 2100m Rating 75 at Otaki on Boxing Day. He later won a 2200m Rating 75 on Telegraph Day at Trentham, then added a 2060m Rating 79 handicap at Wanganui on February 9.

Saturday marked a first step into open company for The Underbelly, and he showed that he was well and truly up to the task.

Ridden by Craig Grylls, The Underbelly went forward and took the lead within the first 100m of Saturday’s $50,000 race, and that was where he remained.

With no pressure from any of his six rivals, The Underbelly had an easy time in front and was able to dictate terms all the way. Grylls began to up the ante coming up to the home turn, and the chasers were unable to match The Underbelly’s acceleration.

The $2.30 favourite increased his advantage with big, powerful strides down the Otaki straight, charging past the finish line four lengths in front of runner-up Mark Twain.

“He just keeps improving, which is promising,” Grylls said. “In all fairness, I got it pretty cheap and was left alone with a soft lead. We just quickened up from about the 500m, and he kept getting quicker and quicker.

“I don’t think he’ll have any problem going further than this, and in higher-pressure races as well. He just keeps improving and relaxes really well in his races.”

One of 26 winners from just 56 runners for Grangewilliam Stud stallion The Bold One, The Underbelly is bred and raced by Eddie and Nicole Bourke and Alan Piercy. He has so far earned $144,320, with Patterson now eyeing the $90,000 New Zealand St Leger (2600m) at Trentham on March 16.

“They gave the race to him today, and you can’t do that with a horse of his ability,” Patterson said. “And especially when he’s carrying only 55kg. He’s a big, strong horse.

“But he was impressive. He’s a proper horse. We’ll probably go to the St Leger and then put him aside, and I’ll be really looking forward to a great six-year-old season with him.

“Every time he goes out, he seems to get better. We’ll get him home tonight, at 11 o’clock or whatever, and he’ll lick the bowl. He’ll work again on Monday and he won’t care.”