Starting new season on a high

HANDY pacer American Werewolf entered the New Year the same way he exited the previous one - via the winners' circle.

The Kevin Pizzuto-trained gelding bid 2025 farewell with a drought-breaking victory in Newcastle on December 30.

Driven by Josh Gallagher, American Werewolf worked to the lead from barrier seven before completing a five-metre triumph in 1:54.6 over a mile

Although he'd been among the placegetters seven times between wins, the son of American Ideal hadn't scored since proving too good in Penrith on May 1.

Competing at Club Menangle earlier this week, American Werewolf won in a career-best 1:52.4.

With Gallagher holding the reins again, American Werewolf led throughout for a soft 14-and-a-half metre win from Kiss Me Mini, with Larrikin Lenny a neck away third.

"It'd been a while since he won, but he's been pretty consistent in between," Pizzuto said. "We bought him last April and he has paid his way ever since.

"He is in a good place right now as he has shown in his last couple of runs, so hopefully he can keep that up for a while.

"I don't have any major plans for him, just pick the right races."