Time To Reign Back on Track for Golden Slipper

Mark Smith - Saturday February 23

Trainer Gary Portelli admitted he was gutted when Time To Reign lost his unbeaten record when out of a place in the Lonhro Plate at Warwick Farm on February 9, but the smile was back on his face when the Time For War colt downed the Golden Slipper favourite Tassort in Saturday's $250,000 Group II Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Caught three wide early, Jason Collett slotted Time To Reign one out in third spot as the speedy Cardiff cut out the early sectionals.

Advertisement

When Cardiff sent out the distress signals at the 300m, Time To Reign pounced. Tassort (Brazen Beau) was back second last and had plenty of ground to make up but his run seemed to level out at the 100 metres and Time To Reign held him by two and a quarter lengths with first-starter Born A Warrior (I Am Invincible) a further three and a quarter lengths back in third. (image Steve Hart)


A winner of his first two starts at Rosehill and Randwick, Time To Reign advances his record to 3 wins from 4 starts with earnings of $309,950.

A half-brother to Portelli's 2017 ATC Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign, Time To Reign is back on track for the Golden Slipper, however, Portelli said it had been a tough two weeks since his defeat.

"I couldn't have been any more deflated (after Warwick Farm), Portelli said.

He was a $1.60 favourite and was expected to win. He did a lot wrong. He is only a young horse and it's amazing how often a two-year-old can do the wrong thing on their home track. They get too brave, they know where they are and try to get it over and done with too quickly. That run probably toughened him up for today.

"I came here today concerned the speed was really going to be on and maybe things wouldn't go to plan

"He got a really bad bump out of the gate and Jason gave him a good dig. The speed was on and he got into a lovely spot.

"I was worried he wasn't travelling comfortably enough to pick up, but gee what a nice horse he is.

"We will stick with the plan and start him in the Todman in two weeks and get that 1200 metres under his belt.

"If it's a heavy track on Slipper day you want them fit so if he pulls up well that's the plan."

The result will be welcomed by Yarraman Park who will offer a full sister to Time For Reign and half-sister to She Will Reign as lot 412 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Unlike She Will Reign, who was a bargain basement $20,000 yearling for Darby Bloodstock who went on to win over $3 million, Time To Reign was a considerably more expensive $325,000 purchased by Darby Racing/De Burgh Equine/Portelli Racing from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Bred by Gary Bachel, Time To Reign is the third winner from as many foals out of the Charge Forward mare Courgette (pictured) who was a $25,000 Inglis Premier Yearling and was sold by Yarraman to E Thoroughbreds for $2,100,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, a price only topped by the $2.6 million paid for the outstanding Jameka.

Courgette was carrying a colt by I Am Invincible at the time of her sale.

A winner in Sydney, Courgette is a daughter of the unraced Marscay mare Our Farm Girl a sister to Listed Gimcrack Stakes winner Millie and a half-sister to Listed Winter Cup winner Touch Of Sun (Snippets) out of the Group II Reisling Slipper winner and Group 1 AJC Oaks runner-up Sunshine Sally (Cheraw).

Courgette has a yearling filly from the second and final crop of the ill-fated Time For War and a colt foal by I Am Invincible. She was bred back to Snitzel last spring.

Time To Reign becomes the first stakes-winner for the Group II Pago Pago Stakes and Group II BRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Time For War who died from a suspected colic attack at Kitchwin Hills Stud in December 2016. Kitchwin Hills has purchased an interest in Time To Reign.

Advertisment
More Reading...
She Will Reign One Day!
Some foals are more active than others and this one is in a class of her own as she should be given this little girl is a half-sister to the 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign.
Third Winner for Time For War
Embattled was the most experienced runner in Sunday’s QTIS 2-Y-O Maiden Plate (1000m) at the Sunshine Coast and it showed – given a positive ride by Luke Tarrant he won by a widening five and a quarter lengths to credit his sire Time For War with his third first-crop winner.
100th National Yearling Sale to Debut New Format
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales in New Zealand, a significant milestone to celebrate.
Sires With Winners - Monday May 5
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
One to Watch – Curragh
He’s a Coolmore homebred blueblood, but sired by Darley’s champion stallion Dubawi and Officer opened his stakes account overnight at The Curragh winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1m).
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Time For War’s He’ll Haunt Us Strikes First On Magic Millions Raceday
Mick Price and Michael Kent’s long-range plan to win Australia’s richest maiden paid handsome dividends on Saturday when He’ll Haunt Us landed the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.