The absence of the 2012 Newmarket Handicap winner from a Sydney barrier trial on Tuesday could indirectly play havoc with the first-up ambitions for a horse aimed at this year's edition of the $1 million sprint.

For the second time in 24 hours, drawcard sprinter Hay List was barrier trial no-show and there was no one more disappointed than Clarry Conners.

Conners has been meticulous in his planning to run Decision Time first-up in the Newmarket Handicap and he was hoping to test the gifted sprinter against Hay List at Warwick Farm.

Instead, he had to call up his veteran restricted-class galloper Malambo to provide enough numbers for the 1000m course proper trial to go ahead.

As Conners expected him to do, Decision Time beat Malambo and Chris Waller's stayer Stout Hearted but it left the trainer with more questions than answers.

"I really wanted to give him a good test against a good horse," Conners said.

"Looking at it now I should have pulled him out of the trial and put him in the heat against Shoot Out.

"I've planned it all along to give him three trials and then race him in the Newmarket but I'm not sure if he is ready for it after that.

"I'm not too sure what to do now. I might wait for the Challenge Stakes.

The $175,000 Challenge Stakes (1000m) will be run a week after the Newmarket at Warwick Farm on March 16.

Not seen since at the races since the 2011 Melbourne spring carnival, Decision Time has been given 55kg in the Newmarket.

Conners won the 2003 Newmarket with Belle Du Jour when the mare was second-up into the famous Group One sprint.

Shoot Out, the four-time Group One winner who missed a resuming run in the Apollo Stakes because of rain-affected track, won his 1200m barrier trial after leading from the middle stages.

Hay List is scheduled to work at Gosford on Wednesday, ahead of a possible exhibition gallop at Rosehill on Saturday.