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By Brad Gray
At Royal Randwick

Gary Portelli admitted to feeling the pressure with Time To Reign, the relation to She Will Reign, in the Forum Group Kirkham Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick.

The two-year-old wobbled his way down the straight but held a comprehensive margin at the finish to beat Godolphin colt Bivouac.

Time To Reign kicking clear in debut

“You’ve got a potential stallion on your hands being a half-brother to a Golden Slipper winner, that can gallop, so you don’t like to see them get beat at their first start,” said Portelli.

“At the 200m I was looking to see those blue colours coming up the inside and I was worried but despite being very green, he looked strong through the line.”

The overriding sentiment from both Portelli and jockey Rachel King was that we haven’t seen anywhere near the best of the colt yet.

“He has never galloped away from home. You’ve got to understand they aren’t humans, he wouldn’t know where the winning post is today. He kicked clear but didn’t know where to go. He hasn’t worked at a different track in his life,” reiterated Portelli.

Time To Reign was wayward down the straight (Pic: Steve Hart)

“There is plenty of upside and we’re talking about heading down to Melbourne for the Maribyrnong (Plate) but we’ll see how he comes through today. He is going to be a really nice horse next preparation.

“He has got plenty of leg under him and he hasn’t filled out yet. When I bought him he was a bit on the small side, I can’t believe how much the horse has grown since I’ve had him. He has grown into a magnificent type.”

King added, “He is obviously very talented but he was very raw. He wants to do the right thing but is not quite sure of himself just yet. He got in front, pricked his ears and had a good look. He was looking at the banners and the big screen the whole way up the straight.”

As for the inevitable comparisons to She Will Reign, Portelli doesn’t have any concern about Time Will Reign, who gave his sire Time For War his first winner, stretching out to the 1200m.

“She was a bit shorter and at the same time of year I thought she was an 800m horse. I didn’t know if I’d be able to get her out to 1200m but this bloke has always shown he’d be strong. He has got a bit more length about him and is more relaxed, more tradesman-like,” Portelli said.

“If we can get him qualified for a Slipper, my god, look out.”

Check out all the results and replays for Royal Randwick on Saturday.