American Me to embark on new campaign at Alexandra Park tonight

By Jordyn Bublitz 

Group 1 winner American Me makes his first start of a new northern campaign at Alexandra Park tonight, lining up in the Commercial Realty Property Management Mobile Pace for new trainer Matthew White.

The nine-year-old has been one of the better open-class pacers in the country at his peak, taking out the Group 1 Invercargill Cup as a six-year-old and running fourth in the 2023 New Zealand Cup. 

Over 123 starts he has banked more than $435,000 in prize money, and the northern tracks have been kind to him, with wins at both Alexandra Park and Cambridge.

He arrives fresh from his stint with trainers Brent and Tim White in Ashburton, now settling into White's Clevedon stable, and by all accounts the transition has gone smoothly.

"He arrived in really good order. A nice, happy and healthy horse," White said.

"We've just kept ticking him over, he had a nice workout last week and he seems ready to go."

Junior driver Stephanie Burley takes the reins in Race 9 (8.45pm) , and White is expecting a competitive showing on debut for the stable.

"I think he'll go well. It looks like the softest field he will have faced in a while."

That may be true in the broader sense, but the race isn't without its dangers. 

Blazing Louie arrives in red-hot form after breaking the 2200m standing start record at Cambridge last week, while Jeremiah, out of the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan powerhouse, is another who won't be easily dismissed.

Tonight's result will give White an early read on where his new arrival fits, though he's in no rush to find out.

"We're trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves. We'll get some racing into him over the next few weeks and see how he's going," he said.

"He'll tell us what he's ready for."

American Me isn't White's only interest on the night. 

Shards Avatar lines up in the Classique Landscapers Mobile Trot (5.14pm) looking to break her maiden after a promising runner-up finish at the track a fortnight ago, while Arrigo returns to the races in the Plumbers Night At Alexandra Park Fri 28th Aug Mobile Pace (5.41pm) for his first start of a new campaign. 

White expects both to perform, but it's the old warrior in Race 9 who shapes as his strongest hand of the evening.