Valuable colt Time To Reign has blitzed a star studded field in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm.
The rising three-year-old's performance to win by more than six lengths on Friday was not a surprise to his trainer Gary Portelli who has the colt primed for his early season return on August 10.
The winner of the Silver Slipper Stakes, Time To Reign is a half brother to the Portelli-trained 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign.
While many three-year-olds are being aimed at the Golden Rose (1400m) and Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Time To Reign has only raced twice at 1200m, finishing sixth in the Todman Stakes and fifth in the Golden Slipper.,
“We have to get him up to 1200 metres first,” Portelli said.
“He will start out in the Rosebud over 1100 and then we will see how he goes.
“There are plenty of races for him.”
Time To Reign beat Hobartville Stakes runner-up, the Anthony Cummings-trained Vegadaze by 6-1/4 lengths in the 900m-heat on the course proper with Group One winner Nakeeta Janes another two lengths third.
A Chris Waller-trained quartet of Group One winners – Unforgotten, Verry Elleegant, Patrick Erin and Shraaoh – finished in a bunch around 12 lengths from the winner.