Play for Time Terrific

Fresh-up, Play for Time (3 f Foxwedge - Procrastinate, by Jade Hunter) gave her rivals a cold when racing away to win the Maiden 1100 metres by five lengths on 3 January at Omakau.

Despite drifting in the betting market to start equal $2.80 fixed odds favourite, Play for Time who was thought enough of to contest the New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) in September at Riccarton, won by subsequent 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner La Diosa (So You Think), had too much class for the opposition.

Away smartly from barrier three for jockey Masa Tanaka, Play for Time co-led on the inner, appeared to have matters in hand when travelling best at the 600m and after railing perfectly into the short straight she opened up to win impressively.

On Dead5 going, Play for Time clocked 1:06 for the 1100 metres in a race sponsored by Dunstan Hotel, Omakau Auto Centre, and Speight's.

Beautifully bred, Play for Time is from Tristarc Stakes (Gr. 3, 1400m) winning mare Procrastinate, herself a six-time winner from 1100m - 1400m, and after retiring to stud in 1995 she has made a lasting impression.

“Play for Time is out a blue hen mare, this is her second last foal and she was given to us to train by Newgate Stud Farm,” said Te Akau Principal David Ellis.

“Jamie (Richards) 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.

“The filly has been looked after down there by Les and Richard Didham, who have been doing a great job with her and she spelled extremely well at one of the South Island's leading agistment farms owned by Greg and Karen O'Connor.

“Newgate is managed by Henry Field, one of the most capable stud masters in the world. 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,” Ellis said.

Field shares in the ownership of Play for Time with Newgate shareholder Matthew Sandblom who also has a share in her winning stable-mate Summer Monsoon, a two-year-old colt by Stratum (Redoute's Choice).

Play for Time was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, also responsible for breeding Australian Horse of the Year Winx (Street Cry). She is by the highest rated son of Fastnet Rock at stud, Foxwedge, a resident stallion at Newgate Stud.

“It was a really good win,” said Jamie Richards, who trains in partnership with Stephen Autridge.

“She was a little bit light through the spring and Henry (Field) gave us the opportunity to give her a freshen-up and she did really well, coming back into work in excellent order.

“She has a bit of a barrel to her now, is really starting to strengthen as she matures and looks more like an Aussie bred horse, which she is.  Her recent trial was very good, the Didham's are doing a great job with her and I could not have been happier with her when I saw her last week.

“It's really pleasing for the owners, she's a very valuable filly, now as a winner has even more value, and hopefully we can place her off the back of that to pick up some black type along the way.  It's great for Henry and Matthew, obviously they are very big supporters of the thoroughbred industry and I thought Masa (Tanaka) rode her well.”

The first foal of Procrastinate, Laisserfaire (Danehill), proved to be the best filly of her year in South Africa, winning five Group Ones, after making $575,000 when purchased as a yearling by James Bester.

Procrastinate has left eleven winners, headed by Laisserfaire and including Group Three winner A Time for Julia (Redoute's Choice), and stakes winners: Time Thief (Redoute's Choice), Foreplay (Danehill), and Personify (Galileo).

And rather famously changed hands to Fairway Thoroughbreds as a seventeen-year-old for $660,000 at the Inglis Broodmare Sale in 2007, proving that the investment was a wise one with progeny since then fetching $725,000 & $600,000.

Now retired, her last foal is a filly by So You Think (High Chaparral).

Play for Time was strapped by Richard Didham.

Photo credit - www.theinformant.co.nz