Former Orange trainer Gary Portelli is confident the wet conditions expected at Rosehill will suit Time to Reign in Saturday's $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper (1200 metres), exactly the way it did for his half-sister She Will Reign when she triumphed a couple of years ago.
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Tuesday's barrier draw helps too, with Portelli's hope landing gate nine for his crack at the world's richest two-year-old race, which has led him to be instilled mid-pack in the early market at $17.
"We know he handles the wet track and loves Rosehill, he has won there three times," Portelli said.
"We have good memories from a wet day with She Will Reign.
"The barrier of nine is in the middle where I wanted to be, and we will be letting him run because that's how he races best."
But Portelli, hoop Jason Collett and Time to Reign will face one of the biggest market-moves in history in that bid for the $2 million winner's cheque, in Cosmic Force.
The son of Deep Field needed a win in last weekend's Pago Pago Stakes to even earn a crack at the Slipper and before the jump sat at $51 and was just another nomination.
Then he blew everyone away, sitting three wide and demolishing his rivals by more than seven lengths, he was eased down by James McDonald on the line to gain a run.
Minutes later he was an $8 chance for the Slipper, and after drawing barrier two has come in even further to be the race's $5 favourite.
"The barrier gives us a good opportunity to ride him in just behind them, rather than make something happen," Cosmic Force's trainer Peter Snowen said.
"We haven't been able to do that with yet."
Saturday's Golden Slipper jumps at 4.30pm.
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