Oh well nevermind mirroring ANH then lol, but in terms of pacing, would it work? You wouldn’t specifically have to make anakin destroy watto’s pod but just show him losing, then Qui-Gon could find him getting into a fight over whether or not he cheated.
I think it would work well but I think you would have to show anakin destroying watto’s pod. Cuz later in the film he says “he smashed up my pod last race”
I mean you could just take out that line but still.