Is American Blaze Anne-Marie's best ever?

The American Ideal four-year-old American Blaze is shaping as the greatest horse ever brought out by Rolleston horsewoman Anne-Marie Best in more than 40 years in harness racing.

The gelding, who began his career as a three-year-old under the tutelage of Anne-Marie and her son Jack, winning two races, one at Oamaru and the Little Green Jug at Methven, is now making an impact on the other side of the Tasman.

"He didn't show us much earlier on but he's just kept getting better and better," Jack said.

Bought by Singapore-based former Perth trotting commentator Steve Levar and his father Steve 12 months ago through agent Mark Jones, American Blaze has won three of his four starts on Australian soil and looks a WA Golden Nugget candidate of the highest order.

Following back-to-back successes at Pinjarra and Bunbury, American Blaze put an exclamation mark on his career when he beat a handy field in the Listed $50,000 John Higgins Memorial at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

Despite being pressured for the lead on several occasions, the Michael Munro-trained and driven gelding held on bravely in a slogging finish to prevail by a nose.

Anne-Marie bought American Blaze's dam Ballymahon, an In The Pocket mare from the famed Norice tribe, through Canterbury trotting personality Justin Le Lievre for a paltry $500.

The mare had been extensively bred from by the late Mike Stratford, producing seven foals for the Cantabrian breeder for four winners, including the multiple Menangle winner Bally Castle and the Melton victor Classiemahon.

For Best, Ballymahon left three foals and only one winner, American Blaze.

"She had a filly which we qualified but was too big and ended up going to Blenheim as a riding and show horse," Anne-Marie said.

"Her next foal was bound for the yearling sales but had a terrible accident and I had to have him put down."

Anne-Marie said that the ill-fated Steel Falcon, the winner of three of his eight starts as a three-year-old, the Listed-winning trotter The Present Maker, the dual Albion Park winner Tossie's Son and Hanover Mae, a Holmes Hanover mare she bred with her late father Noel Andrews, were among the best horses she has bred.

Anne-Marie and Jack are currently breeding from four broodmares, namely Make My Night and her Sundon daughter Make My Sundon, along with the well-bred pacers Toscana Bromac and Sweet Alice.

"We've got three yearlings which we are working with and will keep for racing," Anne-Marie stated.