Clever Man finished third in the Listed Premier's Plate at Morphettville, then finished down the track behind Highland Jakk in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes before bouncing back to winning form on his home track last time out with Zoe Lloyd in the saddle.
Clever Man proved too good for Killourney and Sebonna to win last year's feature and White said the horse is thriving.
"The horse is terrific,'' White said.
"His form this year would be on par with last year and that's given he's been running in harder races this time around.
"For such a little horse he's holding himself together really well, he's really only run the one bad race this time around and that was in the Lord Reims.
"And I blame myself a little for that. Being a Group 3 race I got a little carried away, I don't normally gallop my horses in the week leading into their races, but I did and that was probably why he didn't run up to his best,'' he said.
Zoe Lloyd retains the ride in the feature after guiding the horse to victory last time out.
"Zoe rode him well the other day,'' White said.
"They were caught a little wide, but she didn't panic and kept him happy and in the end, they were too good,'' he said.
Sue Murphy has Premier's Plate winner Farooq heading to the feature while Kangaroo Island Cup winner Hamslette will chase another country cup feature for the James and Lisa Dodgson stable.
"I've got a lot of respect for Sue's horse (Farooq),'' White said.
"He was too good for us in the Listed race (Premier's Plate) the other week and there's a few from over the border who must be respected.
"You have to be weary of all the runners, not just the ones who appear the dangers on paper,'' he said.
And White said to win another hometown Cup in combination with a good mate would be an amazing result.
"Trevor Little is a good friend of mine and it was always a long time dream of his to win the Mount Gambier Cup,'' White said.
"We were able to do that last year and to do it again would be a huge thrill,'' he said.