It’s So Easy for This Trotting Family

Well-known Templeton horsewoman Denise Nyhan, who passed away recently, was a daughter of legendary trainer Bill (WJ) Doyle.

For anyone under 40, a bit of context: Bill Doyle during the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s was arguably the equivalent of a modern-day Paul Nairn or Phil Williamson—a master trainer of the square gaiter. His breed thrived during what many regard as a golden age of New Zealand harness racing.

The win of It’s So Easy at Addington on Friday night (August 1, 2025) was her ninth victory from 78 starts, taking her career earnings to $122,000—a mighty achievement, especially given she didn’t debut until she was a five-year-old.

The win continued an outstanding strike rate from an equine family established by Bill Doyle and carried forward so successfully by his daughter Denise and her husband Dennis.

It’s So Easy still races under the estate of Denise and Dennis and is trained by their daughter Margot. She was driven to victory by Margot’s long-time partner, Peter Davis.

The mare is a Majestic Son daughter of With Intent (13 wins, $175,000), who was trained throughout her career by Dennis and remains under the ownership of the Nyhan estate.

Her full sister Knowing Me has won four races to date and, like her sibling, is expected to join the broodmare band when her racing career concludes.

With Intent, by Sundon, is a daughter of Total Perception (7 wins, 24 placings), who also left The Fox (5 wins) and Total Exposure (1 win) from five live foals. Prominent Canterbury breeder Spreydon Lodge is currently breeding from another full sister, Total Reality, who after producing colts by Creatine and Father Patrick, is now in foal to Tactical Approach.

Total Perception was out of Bill Doyle’s smart trotting mare Look (9 wins), a true broodmare gem for Denise Nyhan and her sisters Helen Pope and Lyn Smith.

Look (b.1983), by French sire Gekoj, was a shining example of Doyle’s progressive thinking—well ahead of the European trotting bloodline boom sparked by Haras des Trotteurs. At stud, she left 10 live foals for 10 winners, many of them standouts.

Full sister to Total Perception, Some Direction, won 25 races and $307,000 for Lyn Smith. As a broodmare, she also delivered—her first seven foals all made the races, with six of them winning.

Now Another Look (6 wins), a highly promising trotter for a young Paul Nairn, had his career cut short by injury but was thought regally enough bred to be given a shot at stud in the late 1990s. A son of Chiola Hanover, he sired 15 winners from limited opportunities.

Speculate, also by the great Sundon, won nine races before herself becoming a successful broodmare for the Smiths. Other family winners include Lookslikeatrooper and Lookslikeatrixter (6 wins each), while Look also produced Geeky Looking (4 wins) and Perfect For Now (5 wins) when mated multiple times to Sundon.

The family’s strength traces back to Someday (6 wins), a mare trained by Doyle, who also became a top broodmare. She produced the outstanding trotter About Now (25 wins), whose daughters and granddaughters have continued to expand the legacy.

Full brothers to About Now by Great Evander—Some Evander and William Jay (3 wins)—were also tried at stud, though like many colonial stallions of their era, suffered from limited opportunities.

Someday (by Light Brigade out of Passive) was a half- or full-sister to seven winners, not just handy horses either. When (19 wins) and Asia Minor (15 wins) were elite open-class trotters in the 1960s, while Wipe Out (10 wins) made it to Cup class as a pacer. Chances Are (8 wins) produced the smart Rebel Statesman (6 wins from 21 starts). When also left Now (8 wins), who in turn produced the exceptional trotter and sire Call Me Now (24 wins, $428,000) for Paul Nairn.

And the list just keeps going.

On close inspection, there’s no doubt the family of It’s So Easy stands among the best-credentialled trotting families in the New Zealand studbook.

And it’s a legacy built from scratch by the late Bill Doyle—and proudly carried on by his daughters. History would suggest it’s a family, both equine and human, that still has a lot more to give.