3 minute read

Unbeaten colt Time To Reign is ready for a barrier trial ahead of serious racing against the cream of the season's two-year-olds on his way to the Slipper.

Tim Clark will ride Time To Reign when the colt begins his quest to emulate his elder sister by winning the Golden Slipper.

Unbeaten in two starts late last year, the colt will run in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday ahead of his return in the Lonhro Plate at the same track on February 9.

Like 2017 Slipper winner She Will Reign, Time To Reign is trained by Gary Portelli for a Darby Racing syndicate.

Unlike She Will Reign, Time To Reign cost $325,00 compared to the $20,000 Darby paid for the former.

"Tim Clark has the ride for the trial and the Lonhro Plate,": Portelli said.

"He was originally going to trial at Randwick on Thursday because these trials were not programmed but it's good he will be able to do this on his home track which is where he will be running first-up.

"The colt has done well after a break and hopefully wins first-up and then goes to the Silver Slipper where he is likely to meet Tassort and then we will see how good he is."

Godolphin colt Tassort is the ruling Slipper favourite ahead of his stablemate Exhilarates ,the winner of the Magic Millions Classic.

Time To Reign won his debut over 1000m in November and stepped up to 1100m for his next start.

Portelli will also trial unraced two-year-olds Lord Tropicana and Manhattan Marvel.

The first of the open heats will feature ATC Australian Derby winner Levendi who missed the spring after he needed surgery to remove bone chips from his knees.

His opponents are scheduled to include Group One winner D'Argento and multiple Group winner Avilius.

The Peter Gelagotis-trained Levendi will do his autumn racing in Sydney and is likely to run into Winx in the Apollo and Chipping Norton Stakes.

Brenton Avdulla has been booked for the barrier trial.