Driver John Dunn admits the gap between Sundees Son and his young rivals is closing, but the question remains whether it has closed enough to see him beaten in tomorrow night's $100,000 Trot at Alexandra Park.
Nobody doubts Sundees Son is the best trotter in Australasia, especially over longer trips, but he has been beaten in his last two Alexandra Park starts by Bolt For Brilliance and then Muscle Mountain when they have settled in front of him.
It continues a pattern over the last 12 months, with the young pretenders able to outsprint Sundees Son in 55-second last 800m splits when they lead, but being run off their hooves when he leads and gets up a head of steam over longer distances.
Tomorrow night's 2700m mobile looks ideal for Sundees Son and Dunn is adamant he will be a fitter horse than when he chased Muscle Mountain in vain last Friday over a mile. But Muscle Mountain looks to be getting stronger and more troublesome to overpower when he can dictate terms.
He has the gate speed to lead again as while Temporale will cross to the lead if asked to, over 2700m he would seem certain to hand up and Dunn concedes Muscle Mountain should end up in front.