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By Ray Hickson

The timing is a lot more on lightly raced colt Bartolf’s side as he returns to city company at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Tom Charlton (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Bartolf scored easily at his first start back in July at Scone on a heavy 10 and that win saw him start favourite in a Saturday at Randwick 11 days later.

He finished sixth behind Wanaruah and co-trainer Tom Charlton, who prepares with John O’Shea, said in hindsight it was probably a case of too much too soon.

“We perhaps made a mistake that day, he was impressive on debut and came out of the run really well but it was inside two weeks,’’ he said.

“With the two-year-old programming and given the spring was a couple of months away our hand was dealt to run him there and as it turned out it came a bit quick for him.”

So it’s a different story as Bartolf, $3.10 with TAB on Tuesday, steps off an impressive Newcastle win at his first run for two months into the Casino Prince @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1200m).

With a three week gap, and his proven ability on rain affected ground, Charlton is quietly confident he can start to realise his potential.

“He’s a nice three-year-old type with plenty of scope and upside,’’ Charlton said.

“He should handle the ground fine but we put him in Saturday in case anything crazy happened.

“He’s trained on beautifully off his last run and he should be able to progress through his grades in time.”

There’s a plan B in place for each of the O’Shea and Charlton trio engaged, the others being Blue Vein and Ravello, at Warwick Farm subject to how the track is presented on Wednesday morning.

Blue Vein would be in doubt of lining up in the Buy An Arrowfield Yearling Handicap (1400m) if the track was heavy and Charlton said there’s an option for him next Wednesday.

The colt caught the eye with his first-up third behind Endure at Randwick on Boxing Day, his first run since debuting back in March last year.

“He’s a big scopey individual who just had a slight setback after his debut last year,’’ he said.

“It was the first race of the day and a slightly slack tempo, and having to go back from the gate, probably cost him the race.

“As it turned out on the day it was hard to make ground. We were happy with his effort and we think he’s a horse of the future.”

Ravello could be bound for New Zealand if he bounces back to form in the Pinatubo First Yearlings Handicap (1600m), with Saturday’s Wyong program a back-up in case of a heavy track.

The four-year-old, who finished a respectable seventh in the Little Dance, just battled into eighth behind Perfect Thought at Randwick on December 14.

Bartolf wins at Newcastle on December 19

“He was a bit disappointing in his last start, couldn’t really find a lot of excuses, but previously he was racing very well,’’ Charlton said.

“He gets back to a track he likes, though he probably doesn’t want a load of rain.”

Charlton said there’s a four-year-old race over 1600m on Karaka Millions Day later this month that appeals for Ravello given he’s owned in New Zealand.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting