Another First for I’m Miss Royalty and the White Family

Im Miss Royalty (Im Stately – Miss Tiny Tot) has delivered another milestone for the White family, giving Brent White his first win as a driver at Maryborough on Sunday.

The nine-year-old mare, trained by Brent’s 92-year-old grandfather Bill White, won the Peter Egan Bi-Rite Electrical Trot over 1690m by 7 metres from Castles In The Sky, with favourite Betsy Anne ($2.80) a further 4.1 metres away third.

IM MISS ROYALTY REPLAY

Starting from barrier three on the second row on a rain-affected track, Im Miss Royalty was sent out at $5.50 and recorded a mile rate of 2:02.4.

It was a result with a strong family echo. On December 1, 2023, Brent’s sister Lauren drove the same mare to her own first win at Ballarat, scoring over 2200m by 2.2 metres at $12, despite galloping early in the race. Their father Ian completed the set, having driven Im Miss Royalty to her maiden win in the Northern Rivers Equine Veterinary Clinic Maiden Trot over 1650m at Bendigo on June 16, 2021. She started the $4.20 favourite that night and won by 2.3 metres from Buslin Brody.

Lauren was in Sunday’s race as well, driving stablemate Miss Avenger for her grandfather. That  mare finished fifth.

Brent’s connection with Im Miss Royalty goes back well before he held a licence. As a teenager in 2022 he did much of her jogging and fast work, and looked after her feeds, during COVID lockdowns and school holidays.

Twelve months ago Ian said Brent was working horses with the family while doing the trials needed for his driver’s licence, and Im Miss Royalty played her part. Brent drove her in four trials in March and April this year, winning one at Maryborough, before she resumed racing in May.

He has been in the sulky for all 10 of her race starts this season. Sunday’s win came at the 10th attempt and followed an eighth placing at Kilmore on October 14, when she started at $61.

It was also the mare’s first win since December 2023. She did not race again after that month until her return at Bendigo in May.

Speaking to thetrots.com.au last October, Ian summed up how the Huntly stable runs, with Brent working horses alongside the rest of the family.

“It’s very much a family operation here,” Ian White said.

The Whites have been in harness racing for five generations. Bill’s grandfather Sam and father Jack were trainers, and Ian has previously described Lauren and Brent as the fifth generation to carry on the tradition. Bill drove free-for-all winners at the Showgrounds in his younger days and, according to Ian, is one of the few hobbyists to have won at Ascot Vale Showgrounds, Moonee Valley and Melton.

The Whites do not just train and drive Im Miss Royalty. They also bred her and own her, with Ian and Susan White listed by HRA as both her breeders and her owners.

The family’s ties to Im Miss Royalty run deeper still. Her dam, Miss Tiny Tot, was bought by Ian and Susan White as a yearling at a clearance sale in Bendigo and was trained by Bill. She provided the only feature race win on his HRA record, the Group 3 Lightfoot Laurels at Moonee Valley on May 4, 2007.

Im Miss Royalty has won seven of her 73 starts, with two seconds and nine thirds, for $34,230 in stakes. This season she has had 10 starts for one win and two thirds, earning $3,900. The brown mare was bred and is owned by I F and S J White.

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From Harnesslink Media