Draw puts perfect season in danger

A TOUGH draw has put Mahomes perfect season at serious risk at Club Menangle today.

Unbeaten from six outings for the term, Mahomes is the widest of eight runners in an Australian Pacing Gold Sovereign heat.

Along with his difficult starting position the Peter Russo-trained youngster faces several in-form rivals.

“Today will be a test for him,” Russo said. “The draw isn’t ideal and will dictate the way he is driven.

“As much as I would like to see his winning streak continue, the main focus is getting him into the Final.

“If he makes his way into the Final and draws better in that he will be driven accordingly.”

Citing Escape Artist as the one to beat, Russo is also wary of My Ultimate Skeeta and Muscle Bart.

Escape Artist and Muscle Bart are vying with Mahomes for favouritism, with Muscle Bart the early elect at $3.40 with TAB Fixed Odds despite being first-up from a spell.

Escape Artist and Mahomes are sitting at $3.50, with My Ultimate Skeeta paying $6.

“Escape Artist is the main danger in my opinion, but Muscle Bart and My Ultimate Skeeta aren’t far behind,” Russo said.

“They’re the main three in my book, so it is a pretty even field.”