The colours of the Australian breeding operation Newgate Stud Farm were to the fore in New Zealand this week.
They were successfully donned on Tuesday by Masa Tanaka when he guided the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Play For Time to victory at Omakau.
The well-bred filly, who had placed in one of her three previous starts, was making her first appearance since October when she coasted home by five lengths.
“It’s really pleasing for the owners – she’s a very valuable filly and now as a winner she has even more value,” Richards said.
“Hopefully we can place her off the back of that to pick up some black type along the way.”
Play For Time is by the Newgate Farm resident Foxwedge out of the Gr.3 Tristarc Stakes winner Procrastinate. She is also the dam of the five-time South African Group One winner Laisserfaire, dual Group Three winner A Time For Julia and the Listed winners Time Thief, Foreplay and Personify.
“Play for Time is out a blue hen mare and this is her second last foal,” Te Akau Principal David Ellis said.
“Jamie went down to Riccarton last week to supervise her training and came back saying that he was really confident that she would win, and it just goes to show what a good judge he is.
“Newgate is managed by Henry Field. He is a very progressive young guy and Newgate is one of the best studs in Australia and they are investing heavily in the breeding industry and we are very proud to win a race in their colours.”
Field races Play for Time with Newgate shareholder Matthew Sandblom, who also has an interest in her stablemate Summer Monsoon, a juvenile winner at Te Rapa in November.
– NZ Racing Desk
