Promising High Chaparral gelding The Underworld has been sent for a spell and will miss the G3 Strickland Stakes in Perth this Saturday.

The Underworld (NZ) powered home to win the LR Belmont Guineas (1600m) at just his fifth race start on June 25 after breaking his maiden earlier in the month.

“He really is a top class horse but is showing signs of training off,” Henley Brook trainer Chris Gangemi said.  “The Guineas was his main aim and the Strickland was an afterthought.  He will go out for six weeks and return for the Festival of Perth Racing.”

The Underworld (3g High Chaparral – Rune by Star Way) is a $50,000 Windsor Park graduate from the 2009 NZB Ready to Run Sale.  His dam Rune is a sister to G1 Caulfield Stakes, Rosehill Guineas and Champagne Stakes winner Sky Chase (Star Way).

“He got an infection earlier this year and it just flattened him for a couple of starts,” Gangemi said.  “He’s a beautifully bred horse and will be at his best over longer distances than a mile.

“He’s probably not a horse that needs to go through the grades.  Basically, our thinking is you don’t know how long you’ve got them, so we will set him for Railway Stakes (1600m) and Kingston Town Classic (1800m) in the summer.”

Gangemi took over the reins from his father John at the family’s Swan Valley stables last year.  He jumped the blocks with Pinjarra Cannonball winner Werd (Hussonet) but The Underworld is now the undisputed star of the stable.

Fellow NZ bred Private O’Dea can keep the flag flying for Gangemi in the LR Dayana Plate on Saturday.  He was third home in the Belmont Guineas behind The Underworld and should handle the step-up to 2000 metres.

Private O’Dea (O’Reilly) cost $65,000 from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2009 NZB Select Yearling Sale.