Te Akau Tauranga Sunday Preview

Te Akau Racing has five horses entered on Sunday 5 February at Tauranga.

Weather: overcast, track: Heavy10, rail: true. Showers forecast.

2:00 p.m. R2 7 Our Milly Bee (3 f Merchant Navy - Rina Bettina) - Opie Bosson; she made up plenty of ground running the fastest last 600m (39.8) for second on Heavy10 in the Maiden 1400 metres on 11 January at Matamata, and contests the $15,000 Maiden 3YO 1400 metres. She has genuine attributes and rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.35. 

2:35 p.m. R3 2 Brando (5 g Savabeel - Saoirse) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); he has been freshened since the Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) on 17 December at Trentham, and contests the $40,000 Open 1200 metres. He sat back before finishing well for second on Soft7 going in the Open 1400 metres here in November, but heavy conditions are not ideal. Fixed odds: $4.80 & $1.80.

2:35 p.m. R3 3 Markus Aurelius (6 g Ghibellines - Evancho) - Opie Bosson; he trialled here on 19 January and resumes in the $40,000 Open 1200 metres. The Coupland's Bakeries Mile (Gr. 3, 1600m) winner, he prefers good ground but needs to get underway, and is using this as prep. before stepping up in distance. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.00.

4:55 p.m. R7 2 La Flora Belle (5 m Iffraaj - Tsarina Belle) - Niranjan Parmar (a2); she was freshened after posting wide in the Manawatu Cup (Gr. 3, 2300m) on 17 December at Trentham, and contests the $30,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. She proved too strong winning the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m) in November, and is preparing to go further but can handle give in the track so look for her getting home well if appreciative of the conditions. Fixed odds: $9.00 & $3.00. 

4:55 p.m. R7 5 Lightning Field (6 g Deep Field - Claudine) - Hakim Kamaruddin (a1); he was chased along throughout in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 25 January at Matamata, won by stable-mate Zeitaku (Savabeel), and steps up in the $30,000 Rating 75 1600 metres. The winner of four on soft going, he is placed two from four on the course, but is required to handle the going. Fixed odds: $18.00 & $5.00.