By Ray Hickson
The timing is much more on the side of the rather underperforming colt Bartolf, who returns to the city society at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Tom Charlton (Image: Bradley Photos).
Bartolf easily scored a mighty 10 on his first start at Scone in July and that victory put him into the race as favorite at Randwick on a Saturday 11 days later.
He finished sixth behind Wanaruah and assistant coach Tom Charlton, who trains with John O'Shea, said in hindsight it was probably too much too soon.
“Maybe we made a mistake that day, he was impressive on debut and came off the run really well, but that was within two weeks,” he said.
“With the two-year-old's planning and given that spring was just a few months away, we were given the hand to send him there and as it turned out, things happened a little quickly for him.”
So it's a different story as Bartolf, who earned $3.10 with TAB on Tuesday, took an impressive Newcastle victory in his first run in two months in the Casino Prince @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1200m).
With a three-week break and his proven ability on rain-affected ground, Charlton is quietly confident he can begin to fulfill his potential.
“He’s a nice three-year-old with a lot of scope and potential,” Charlton said.
“He should be able to handle the ground well but we used him on Saturday in case something crazy happened.
“He trained wonderfully after his last run and should be able to improve his grades over time.”
There is a Plan B for any committed trio of O'Shea and Charlton, the others being Blue Vein and Ravello, at Warwick Farm, depending on how the track is presented on Wednesday morning.
Blue Vein would be doubtful about running in the Buy An Arrowfield Yearling Handicap (1400m) if the track was tough and Charlton said there was an option for him next Wednesday.
The stallion attracted attention with his first third place finish behind Endure on Boxing Day at Randwick, his first run since his debut in March last year.
“He is a very talented person who suffered only a petite setback after his debut last year,” he said.
“It was the first race of the day and a bit of a slowing pace and having to back off from the start probably cost him the race.
“As it turned out that day, it was tough to make up ground. We were ecstatic with his performance and believe he is a horse of the future.”
Ravello could head to Recent Zealand if he returns to form in the Pinatubo First Yearlings Handicap (1600m), with the Wyong program on Saturday serving as a backup in case of a tough track.
The four-year-old, who finished a respectable seventh in the Little Dance, fought his way to eighth just behind Perfect Thought at Randwick on December 14.
Bartolf wins in Newcastle on December 19th
“He was a bit disappointing in his last start, he couldn't make many excuses, but he was doing very well before that,” Charlton said.
“He’s coming back to a track he likes, although he probably doesn’t want a lot of rain.”
Charlton said there is a four-year-old 1600m race on Karaka Millions Day later this month, which is attractive to Ravello as he is based in Recent Zealand.
All fields, forms and repeats for Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting
