Russo gets his groove back

13 April 2021

MENANGLE trainer Pete Russo gives champion horseman Luke McCarthy some of the credit for helping him get back into harness racing after he took a break from the sport.

Now he is set to repay at least a part of that favour by handing McCarthy the drive on one of the most promising youngsters in his stable, Mahomes, at Tabcorp Park Menangle this afternoon.

With regular reinsman Jack Trainor on the sidelines, McCarthy will handle the unbeaten well-named youngster in Race 4 today, where he has been installed as a $2.50 favourite in early markets after drawing perfectly in gate two.

Russo explained that McCarthy had been kind enough to give him a couple of boxes at his Cobbitty stables so he could resume training.

It gave Russo the perfect start and his stable eventually expanded to about eight horses and he has set up his own base at Menangle.

“It’s been a bit of a slow start but now I have a few good owners and things are going well,” said Russo.

“We’re building a house at The Oaks and things are looking good.”

Mind you Russo is putting in some long days as he also works with the family business at Flemington Markets, which means starting about 2am most days so he can finish work in time to get the horses to the races.

“It’s a long day but horses like Mahomes make it all worthwhile,” he said.

Russo said three of his owners had put their heads together and come up with the name Mahomes, named after the Kansas City Chiefs NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I’ve learned a bit about Mahomes since they named him and I hope he can live up to his NFL counterpart,” said Russo.

“At one stage the boys said they were thinking of naming him after Papenhuyzen from Melbourne Storm, but Mahomes is much easier to spell.

“It’s still early days but Mahomes has always shown us a fair bit of ability.”

Russo has another of his stable stars, Controversial ($2.50 favourite) going around in Race 6.

“It took us a while to work him out and maybe we should have put Steph [Lippiatt] on to drive him earlier as she just clicks with him,” said Russo.

“Actually, the owner suggested giving Steph the drive and it has worked out perfectly and hopefully we’ll go on with it now.”

Controversial has won two of his past four starts with Lippiatt aboard.