He was an "akhtachi" () and rose to prominence during Ghazan's viceroyalty in Khorasan. He served alongside Mulay, Qutlughshah and Nurin Aqa and fought in Ghazan's war against Nawruz from 1289 to 1294. He also commanded an army during Ghazan's war against Baydu in 1295. He was one of the executioners of vizier Sadr al-Din Zanjani with Qutlughshah on 30 April 1298. The next year he was sent with emir Qutlughshah to quell Sulamish's revolt in Anatolia. Sutai led a rear guard composed of 15,000 soldiers and won a victory after a decisive battle on 27 April 1299 near Akşehir (modern Suşehri). After quelling the rebellion, Sutay was continuously stationed in Anatolia as a commander of a Mongol garrison. He later took part in the Mongol raids into Palestine especially during 1300 to 1301.