This is another in an occasional series looking at some of New Zealand’s trotting broodmare gems.
LOOK (1983f Gekoj/Someday; a member of the family of Violet M (CF N26) : nine race winner, T2:05.9, $33,285; ten live foals, all winners, one sub two minutes, two $100,000 winners. Bred by Bill Doyle; all progeny bred by Bill Doyle’s three daughters – Helen Pope MNZM, Denise Nyhan and Lynn Smith.
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | NA | G/T | MR | $ |
| 1993 | Astounding (g Gee Whiz II) | 3 | 11 | 14 | T2:04.4US | 62,432 |
| 1994 | Now Another Look (h Chiola Hanover) | 6 | – | 6 | T1:59.4 | 42,292 |
| 1995 | Total Perception (f Gee Whizz II) | 7 | – | 7 | T2:06.4 | 24,909 |
| 1997 | Some Direction (f Sundon) | 25 | – | 25 | T2:02.4 | 307,804 |
| 1998 | In Focus (f Britewell) | 2 | – | 2 | T2:10.8 | 5,856 |
| 2000 | Geeky Looking (g Sundon) | 4 | – | 4 | T2:04.8 | 39,288 |
| 2001 | Speculate (f Sundon) | 9 | – | 9 | T2:02.2 | 136,673 |
| 2002 | Perfect For Now (f Sundon) | 5 | – | 5 | T2:03.1 | 39,360 |
| 2005 | Take For Granted (f Grant Our Wishes) | 3 | 3 | T2:04.8 | 26,890 | |
| 2006 | See Ya (g Dream Vacation) | 2 | 2 | T2:07.6 | 11,955 | |
| Total foals : | 66 | 11 | 77 | $696k+ |
** Conversion: $A1/$US1=$NZ1
Look a winner of nine races (three at two; one at three; one at four; four at five; 4 at Addington) and placed on eleven occasions from forty four starts, T2:05.9, $33,285, Second in NZ Trotting Stakes – 2T, three year old Filly Trotter of Year. The dam of ten live foals, all winners of seventy seven races worldwide and winner of NZ Standardbred Breeders Broodmare of Excellence Award for 2009/2010.
The story behind Look’s maternal family has already been told as part of the Broodmare Centurion series. Briefly, her dam was Someday, winner of six races, T2:10.0, $7,465; dam of eleven live foals, five to race for four winners including Look, About Now (twenty five wins, T2:06.3, $101,745, Ordeal Trotting Cup, Banks Peninsula/Canterbury Trotting Cups twice, Timaru DB FFA, two and three year old Trotter of Year, Aged Trotter of Year; dam of two winners; grand dam of Day Of Reckoning and Shine), Some Pride (dam of Natural Glow, GN Breeders Stakes) and Some Evander a successful sire. Passive was Look’s grand dam and the family’s story can be found in the Harnessbred.com article of 2 June 2020 : Broodmare Centurion – Passive).
Look’s male progeny include :
Astounding, first foal of Look, winner of three races in NZ (T2:07.9) when owned and trained by Lynn Smith and driven by her son Justin. Exported to North America as a seven year old, he won a further eleven races over the next five years with a best mile of T2:00.4US on the five eighths mile Kawartha Downs track at Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Now Another Look, six NZ wins (winner of one at three; five at four; two at Addington, three on grass) and six placings from twenty seven starts, trained by Paul Nairn and usually driven by David Butt. The only sub two minute trotter produced by Look, T1:59.5, he won NZ Hambletonian – 3T; seconds in NZ Trotting Championship, Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup; fourth Ashburton Flying Mile; four year old Trotter of Year, becoming sire of fifteen trotting winners including Brookside Filly (two NZ/eight AUS wins with six at Menangle, one Globe Derby; T1:58.3AUS, $77,940, Strathalbyn Trotters Cup; second NZ Trotters Oaks); Goldstarlook (three NZ wins, T1:58.1US, $83,337); Tijuana Taxi (seven NZ wins, T1:59.4, $51,032); Outlooking (one NZ/fourteen AUS wins [one Harold Park; eleven SA, nine Globe Derby; two VIC), T2:04.1AUS $57,514, Charlton Trotters Cup); Anothersuperstar (ten wins), Kowhai Whiz (nine wins) and also dam sire of one trotting winner
Geeky Looking, winner of four races (one at Addington) for owners Denise and Dennis Nyhan (tr/dr) including North Canterbury Trotting Michael Carrigg Memorial Trot at Rangiora
See Ya, tenth and final live foal of Look, was a two race winner for the Smiths
Look’s fillies include :
Total Perception, Look’s first filly foal won seven races (three Addington) and placed on twenty four occasions from sixty two starts for Denise and Dennis Nyhan (tr and driver in four of her wins –other drivers Ricky May, Jack Smolenski and Andrew McPherson, junior driver).
Dam of five foals, three winners from three raced including With Intent, thirteen wins (seven Addington), T2:03.6, $175,738; Methven F&M Trot, North Canterbury Trotting Michael Carrigg Memorial Trot; second Hambletonian – 3T, Green Mile Trot; third 4yo Trotters Championship, Summer Trotting FFA; 3yo Filly/4yo Mare/5yo+ older Mare Trotter of Year. Now being bred from with two foals to date
Some Direction, the winner of twenty five races (sixteen Addington) and placed on forty occasions from one hundred and sixty seven starts, best mile rate of T2:02.4 set at Addington. Raced for nine seasons from three to eleven years old by the Smiths, trainers Lynn and Justin. A three hundred thousand dollar winner whose major victories included Canterbury Park/Ordeal Trotting Cups, 2004 Cup Day Trot (Christchurch Casino Trot), Murray Butt Memorial FFA (twice), Paul Renwick & Joinery Centre FFA; second NZ Trotting Championship, Canterbury Park Trotting Cup; third Ordeal Trotting Cup (twice). NZ mares record (all ages and 4yo+ older) for 2600m stand of T3:17.8 set at Addington on Cup Day 2004.
Dam of seven foals, three to race, all winners. They are :
- Kingdom Come, raced by breeders the Smiths, trainers Lynn and Justin; four NZ wins (two Addington); T2:04.3, $47,148; second NZ Aged Trotters Classic, PGG Uncut Gems Trotters Classic/five VIC, three Melton wins, T1:59.0, second Scotch Notch, third Sundons Gift FFA; total earnings of $117,348
- Look Ahead, winner, T2:13.4, $9,686
- Some Time, winner of four races (three Addington), T2:02.7, $31,448
In Focus, two wins racing as a five and six year old; dam of five foals for a winner, Seen one win, (T2:07.8, $6,469) and an unplaced trotter
Speculate, winner of nine (four Addington) and placed on six occasions from twenty six starts, best mile rate of T2:02.2 set at Addington on NZ Cup Day 2009 winning NZ Trotting FFA; second Ordeal/Canterbury Park Trotting Cups, Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile (placed in T1:58.7); 5yo+ Mare Trotter of Year. Raced by the Smiths, trainers Lynn and Justin
Dam of six foals, one to race, winner Lookslikeatrouper, six wins (T2:05.3, $49,190) for the Smiths, trained by Lynn and Justin
Perfect For Now, the winner of five races (one Addington), for owners Justin Smith and Helen Pope MNZM, trained by Lynn and Justin Smith who drove her in majority of starts.
Dam of six live foals, none yet to race
Take For Granted, a three race winner (two Addington) from sixty six starts over six seasons for Denise and Dennis Nyhan (tr/dr). Dam of two unraced foals to date
The wonderfully productive broodmare gem Look died on 20 August 2015.
Peter Craig
28 October 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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