American Me out to repeat history at Methven
Matt Markham - Raceform • October 4th, 2025 10:30 AM • 4 min read
The major target is almost within reach, but American Me could do himself some favours in the fight to earn a start in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup when he returns to the green grass of Methven on Sunday – and history suggests he knows exactly what to do.
The former Group One winner won the Alabar Methven Cup back in 2023, earning the right to start in the big dance a month later where he finished an outstanding fourth behind Swayzee. On Sunday he’ll look to tick off the first part again.
A little bit of jiggling of the rankings for the Cup over the past week moved American Me up to 15th on the order of entry, pushing him into the field, but it’s a perilous position so a big result this weekend would do a lot to consolidate his spot. His trainers Brent and Tim White are well aware of that.
“It’s his chance to really show everyone that he’s going well enough to deserve to make the Cup field, I think,” Tim White told RaceForm.
“Obviously there’s still a bit of racing to be done, but it’s often easier to move up the rankings than it can be to move down, so we’re hoping he can really put his best foot forward and run a race this weekend.”
It’s been a tumultuous two years for the White combination with their stable star since his Methven Cup victory. He did make it to the start line of the New Zealand Cup again 12 months ago, but failed to flatter. He finished 13th, suffering with what may have been the beginning of a debilitating virus that swept through the White barn over the later stages of the year.
But 2025 has been, largely, a lot better. Sent up to Auckland to race in June, American Me won twice and placed on the other occasion before coming back to Canterbury and finishing third behind Alta Meteor and then Mo’unga in two of the key lead-up races. He was then a disappointing eighth in the New Brighton Cup before showing he was back on track with a sharp third two weeks ago behind Arthur Shelby.
“We were very happy with his last run, he really charged through the line and it wasn’t a race that was really run to suit him either.
“He has just seemed over the past couple of weeks to have found himself in a pretty good space. His work has been good and his whole demeanour around the stable is a lot more like his old self too.”
Sunday’s assignment won’t be easy though, and the White team are realistic about that with the inclusion of Hannon Memorial winner Akuta as well as the likes of Franco Marek and Rakero Rocket.
“It’s going to be a good wee race. We’re lucky in that we know we’ll handle the grass track without any problems, he tends to thrive on it and with his good stand start manners he should put himself in a good spot early.”
American Me will start off the 10m handicap alongside both Franco Marek and Rakero Rocket with Akuta, who had a hitout on the grass in between races at Motukarara a fortnight ago, handed a 30m handicap over the 3000-metre journey.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to RaceForm and get your copy delivered each week.
