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Silver Slipper winner Time Top Reign will be directed towards a first-up tilt at The Rosebud after a pleasing Randwick barrier trial last Friday.
Trainer Gary Portelli is taking a carefully planned route with Time To Reign in a bid to enhance the Time For War colt's appeal as a stallion prospect.
The Group 2-winning colt is a half-brother to Portelli's Golden Slipper Stakes winner She Will Reign and is on the stud radar after his win in this season's G2 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill in February.
The winner of three of his six starts, Time To Reign has not raced since he finished fifth in the G1 Golden Slipper won by Kiamichi at Rosehill on March 28, beaten 3.8 lengths.
He made a pleasing return in Friday's trial over 735m, finishing a close second to the unraced Yao Dash in the fastest of eight heats run over the distance.
"It was exactly what we were hoping to see. He did everything right," Portelli reported.
"He was nice and relaxed before the trial and he travelled well. They were all the things you like to see them do properly."
Portelli plans to give Time To Reign another trial before he resumes in the Listed Rosebud over 1100m at Rosehill on August 10.
He will then progress to the G3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 31 before Portelli commits him to a step up in distance for a tilt at the G1 Golden Rose over 1400m in September.
"When you have a horse who is pretty good at 1100m you may as well race in as many you can," Portelli said.
"Obviously he is a stallion proposition and has to be given the right opportunities. We will try and plot the best way to keep him in good form and get those stallion deals on the table."
Time To Reign has already attracted some high profile investors into his ownership group with the Hunter Valley's Kitchwin Hills, Queensland's Glenlogan Park Stud, Neil Werrett and Max Whitby buying into the colt following his debut victory.
