It’s not so easy to trot past the Addington stables
Garrick Knight - Raceform • June 19th, 2025 4:00 PM
On the face of it, veteran trotting mare It’s So Easy looks a great chance in Friday night’s feature trot at Addington Raceway.
She’s third-up from a spell, with a win and a placing under the belt, and both runs were excellent.
Her driver says a change in shoeing has the eight-time winner trotting better and faster and before, and she’s from a family with a history of performing as older trotters. Time for a bet, right? Not so fast, says Peter Davis.
Davis, driver of It’s So Easy and long-time partner of the horse’s trainer, Margo Nyhan, revealed an obscure quirk about the daughter of Majestic Son which casts doubts on her chances in the $18,000 Mid Winter Xmas At Addington – Book Now Handicap Trot.
“The 2600-metre start point at Addington can really trip her up,” he told RaceForm. “She eyes up the barn at the end of the straight and often can switch into a pace as we approach it. Even if she trots away, it’s still a big risk of happening.
“If she starts at the 2000 metres in the back straight, it’s fine, but that 2600-metre start in the front straight is a real pain.”
There was no other race for her this week, so Nyhan and Davis are biting the bullet. David admits that, otherwise, the once sloppy-gaited mare would be a great chance.
“Her first run back, at Ashburton was a nice win but not an overly strong field. But then she backed up really well for a strong second in Friday night company at Addington.”
She showed real toe to get home from a hopeless position that night and Davis says it’s due to good farrier work.
“Historically, she’s had trouble with her feet, but we needed to have a lot of weight on her because she was awkward in her gait. But the farrier suggested aluminium shoes, just to help her feet while she was jogging up, and we just left them on because she adapted to them. It’s given her a little bit more speed and really, this prep is the best she’s ever trotted.”
It’s So Easy was the last horse trained by Nyhan’s late father, the esteemed horseman Denis ‘D D’ Nyhan, who died in 2021.
“Denis really liked her and did hold her in high regard,” said Davis.
Nyhan and Davis have proved that regard by preparing It’s So Easy to win more than $110,000 for his estate and that of his now late wife, Denise. Should she trot past the stables this week, Davis believes she’s a strong winning chance.
“It’s a big step up and a really nice field but she wouldn’t be without a chance because she is in career-best form right now.
“Prior to her resumption, we had talked about maybe getting her in foal in the spring, but just the other day Margo said maybe we have to rethink that plan.
“She’s a real character and not the easiest horse to train, which is probably part of the reason we were giving thought to retiring her.
“In fact, she can be pretty feral. I remember one Cup Day we had to put a road cone in front of her stall, so she didn’t bite people that got too close to her! Her full-sister, Knowing Me (four wins to date) is the complete opposite though.”
The stable’s other runner on Friday night is Origin, a maiden trotting mare that is third-up from a spell in the $15,000 IRT Your Horse. Our Passion. Trot over the 2000-metre short course.
An encouraging third on resumption at an Addington midweek meeting was followed by what Davis said was a “tad disappointing” fifth last Sunday.
“She only had the one trial and won that, though they didn’t go much and then I thought her first run back was really good.
“Sunday wasn’t quite as good, but in saying that, she’s a nice enough mare that should be able to pick up her maiden alright fairly soon. She’s not in the same league as her brother, Heavyweight Hero, but she’ll be okay.”
Heavyweight Hero won 10 races, including the 2020 Gr. 1 New Zealand Trotting Free For All, and set four national records in a storied career.
Come Sunday, Davis and Nyhan will be back at Addington with one runner, the enigmatic trotter, Here Comes Jane. She tackles the $10,000 Chats Bar & Café, New Brighton Trot where she’ll face just seven opponents.
“Well, she can’t get any lower in the ratings,” said a clearly frustrated Davis. “She’s every bit as good as It’s So Easy but just does not have the manners. It’s no wonder the trainers of trotters are grey or bald when they have horses like her.
“She’s working really well and looks a million dollars, but she’s an absolute headache for us. She just has to trot to put her foot in the till, but she’s had 49 starts and I’d say she’s galloped in 29 of them.”
Recently sighted at the workouts were the first two daughters of former stable favourite Sarah Palin – four and three-year-old Majestic Son sisters named Lipstick and Albertine.
Both share the similar big ownership groups that raced Sarah Palin to 10 wins and 50 minor placings in a long career.
“They both qualified okay. At this stage I would say the three-year-old (Albertine) is potentially a little bit better.”
