Margaret Carter believed the likely fresh-up mission for Battle Time had been decided, but she was having second thoughts after the Group Two winner competed at Tuesday’s Matamata trials.

After being off the scene since winning over 1400 metres at Ellerslie last June, Battle Time contested an open 1000-metre heat, in which he settled in the last few and beat a couple home.

In his burly state it was an effort which satisfied rider Sam Spratt, but both she and Carter, who prepares Battle Time with her husband, Tim, agreed to rethink the first-up assignment planned for the son of Battle Paint.

“We were thinking of running him first-up in the open 1200 at Ellerslie on the ninth (of December), but after watching him trial they might go too quick for him over 1200. It may be better to find a 1400 first-up,” Carter said. “It mightn’t be as hard on him.”

Spratt was quick to support the 1400-metre idea and is looking forward to continuing her association with the five-year-old entire when he resumes. Spratt was aboard Battle Time when he won the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton 12 months ago and also rode him when second in the Gr.1 Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie as a two-year-old.