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After a flying start to the season for his new trainer Jerome Tan, Surpass Natural passed a little unnoticed at his next run when switched from Polytrack to turf - and he probably faces a similar challenge third-up this Saturday.

The former Leticia Dragon-trained sprinter posted a stylish win in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on the all-weather at the 2021 season's opening meeting on January 3, partly due to a heady ride from Ruan Maia, but also his greater inclination towards the synthetic surface.

Three weeks later, from a wider alley and under first-time partner Zyrul Nor Azman, the seven-time winner (all but one on turf) rolled forward in a turf event over 1200m in similar Kranji Stakes A company to show the way.

Zyrul tried to stack up the speed once he secured the fence, but Fame Star wouldn't let him get away cheaply when he came alongside to keep him honest throughout. A softened-up Surpass Natural eventually weakened out to finish sixth, beaten less than four lengths.

Tan conceded that the winner Grand Koonta was a better horse on the day, but he also put the defeat down to the change in surface.

Oddly enough, the Elvstroem five-year-old persists with turf this Saturday in the $100,000 Golden Ox Stakes, a Class 1 race over 1400m serving as an ad hoc lower-key event in lieu of the traditional Group 3 Fortune Bowl (over the same trip) annually held on the second day of the Chinese New Year.

Surpass Natural did score once on turf (Class 4 race over 1200m), but that came early doors at the second pin of a five-from-five, which then stood him out as something really out of the box in Dragon's barn.

Life has since got tougher as he climbed to the top, and a Polytrack race could have made things easier, but Tan basically said grass was still greener than the wood shavings in the stables.

"He's not a turf horse, he's a Polytrack horse, but what choice do I have? Better than not race," he rued.

"At his last start, he led, but he didn't have an easy race in front, and he then weakened. He's drawn seven again, but we will try and take a sit this time.

"The horse has been working well, and Zyrul will just have to ride him where he lands."

The New Zealand-trained jockey may be a rider Tan doesn't often use, but he certainly couldn't fault his first handling of Surpass Natural.

"Zy rode him to instructions last time," said the Singaporean handler who currently sits in third place on the trainer's log on four winners, five behind reigning champion trainer Michael Clements.

"He knows the horse better now, and as the horse got the topweight (59kgs) again, I needed a claimer, and that's why I put Zy back on. He deserves another chance."

While promoted to the senior ranks from this year, Zyrul still claims three kilos, which will lower Surpass Natural's handicap to a less back-breaking 56kgs.