Gary Portelli is excited about Time To Reign starting his career at Randwick on Saturday but the weather will decide if three-year-old Ronstar returns in the Brian Crowley Stakes.
Portelli will debut Time To Reign (Time Of War-Courgette), which is a half-brother to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain-Courgette), no matter the track conditions on Saturday.
Wants it drier: Ronstar needs the track to improve to return in Saturday's Brian Crowley Stakes.Credit:AAP
“He has done everything right so far and is ready to go. He is not as impressive on the track as his half-sister but I have never had a horse like her," Portelli said. "He does enough to suggest he will be all right.
“Ben Melham was very happy with the way he won his trial the other day and Rachel King has been booked for Saturday.
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“The idea is to get some money in the bank for the Golden Slipper, because that is the dream with him, like his sister.”
Portelli could save Ronstar for another day if the track is heavy on Saturday, but he would like to give him the chance to earn his way to Melbourne.
The Zoustar gelding won his first two starts dominating from the front before just being found out by the 1400m when third to Toulouse on a soft track in June.
“He doesnt like it wet, as you can see in his second barrier trial," Portelli said. "We just took care of him there after he won that first trial. We can wait with him if we have too, but if he runs and wins I think we could have a shot at the Coolmore Stud Stakes down the straight.
“I have talked to the owners about it and they said he would have to have be very impressive for us to do that.
“He is a good little horse and there are plenty of races for him coming up. There is no rush with him.”
Portelli resumed stayer Bringagem, which has won three of his nine starts plus four seconds, over 1300m on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday as he prepares him for staying races over the festive season.
“It is a starting point and he will probably find these a bit nippy for him. He just needs to get miles into his legs because I think he can make a nice stayer,” Portelli said. “He is one that will like the wet ground though.”
Meanwhile, Brenton Avdulla will not ride at Randwick on Wednesday after injuring a knee at trackwork. Avdulla has a grade-one medial ligament injury and will miss a week.
Racing writer for The Sydney Morning Herald
