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By Mark Brassel

Hawkesbury trainer Garry White is confident of producing his first ever runner in the $400,000 Provincial Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 1. But first, his promising young galloper Generalissimo must qualify in today’s $150,000 heat of the Provincial series.

By running in the first three, Generalissimo ($3.50 into $2.90 favourite with TAB fixed odds) will gain his ticket to the ‘big dance’ and give White his first representative in the race.

Generalissimo has started on eight occasions for three wins and a placing with over $80,000 in prizemoney. Last start he was third to Man From Uncle and Guard of Honour in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Left: Generalissom and Tye Angland following a Hawkesbury win. Image courtesy of - Bradley Photographers

White said Generalissimo jumped from barrier one which was a disadvantage: “We drew the fence when no-one wanted to be there as the going on the rails was not as good as two or three out and there was a bit of kick back. Under the circumstances it was a big run.

“He is a serious horse,” White said. “He doesn’t have an instant turn of foot but once he hits top speed he can maintain it for between 500m and 600m. Most other horses can sprint for only 250m to 300m.”

Generalissimo will be having his first attempt over 1400m but White believes the gelding will encounter few problems with the step up in journey.

“I trained many of the family and they are out and out sprinters but this bloke was strong at the line last start (1200m). I’ve always had in the back of my mind that he would be best up to 1400m and even 1600m and Tye agrees.”

Tye Angland has ridden the horse in five of his eight outings (for two wins) and will again partner Generalissimo today: “He’s well weighted on 56 kilos for a class three horse with a benchmark of 75,” White observed.

Generalissimo was beaten at Hawkesbury when making his debut but has since won all three starts at the course. “We have always believed he would be pretty good and he ran an excellent race in his first Stakes event when fifth (Guard of Honour) in the Heritage Stakes at Royal Randwick.

“He recorded the best sectional times in the race. Craig Williams rode him and gave us a great report after the race and said we have a very smart galloper.”

With the course rain-affected White said Generalissimo won’t have any trouble with the going: “He is very fit and is adept in all going. I remember he bolted in with a barrier trial here before his debut and it was a bog track.”

White has entered stablemate Every Chance ($2.50 fav) in the WPH Sports Club Class 1 Handicap (1400m) today. Every Chance has won one of his seven starts, having broken through at Hawkesbury (1300m) two starts back: “He was a short-priced favourite when he won and did the job well.”

Last start Every Chance finished third to Hessdalen there over 1400m on February 21: “He had 12 days between runs and I didn’t do much with him so he may have just needed the run. He had quite a blow afterwards.

“He loves the sting out of the ground with his Hawkesbury win two starts back and his previous second at Royal Randwick both on soft going.”

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here