Karangetang for a winning return

Jack Milner

One of the Highveld’s top juveniles of last season, Karangetang, will have his first race as a three-year-old in Race 5 on Thursday, a Graduation Plate over 1000m, on the Turffontein Inside track.

He made his debut in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes and ran out 2.50-length winner after being backed from 14-1 down to 25-4. This son of Erupt followed up with victory in the Grade 3 Protea Stakes, going off at 7-10, beating River Queraress, who has subsequently contested two Grade 1 races.

Karangetang’s next two runs, however, were disappointing, to put it mildly, and he was then gelded.

He has been off the track for 117 days and hopefully trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren has sorted out any issues troubling this talented runner.

In-form jockey Keagan de Melo has been aboard Karangetang in all four of his starts and he retains the ride, to continue his relationship with Van Vuuren’s charge.

Since all four his first runs were as a juvenile, this is the first time he will step into the starting stalls with an official merit rating, and that stands at a staggering 109.

If there are still a few cobwebs limiting Karangetang’s performance, it could open the door for Far Away Winter. Trained by Mike and Adam Azzie, this three-year-old What A Winter gelding has raced just four times for two wins and two places and is expected to be right in the mix in the closing stages.

The next race of interest on the eight-race card is Race 7, a MR 90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m.

This is expected to be a hard-fought contest, but Terra Time gets the nod after her impressive victory over the same course last time out.

Trained by Lucky Houdalakis, this daughter of Time Thief answered every question asked by jockey Craig Zackey when recording her second career win and looks ready to repeat with the same jockey back in the saddle.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Asiye Phambili, 7 Rosy Lemon, 1 Mighty Goddess, 3 Alice May

Race 2: 9 Princess Ilaria, 5 Stroke Of Mercy, 7 Woodland Ridge,4 Red Emperor

Race 3: 3 Battleground, 2 African Torrent, 6 King Of Rome, 8 Skyjet

Race 4: 6 Pacific Express, 5 Double Joy, 1 Inner Sense, 2 Maith An Cailin

Race 5: 2 Karangetang, 3 Far Away Winter, 7 Show Time, 4 Remember When

Race 6: 2 Whispers Of War, 1 Bey Suyay, 9 Southern Blaze, 11 Prosper's Gift

Race 7: 5 Terra Time, 2 Ballroom Bliss, 4 Southern Song, 7 Kind Judy

Race 8: 3 Liverpool Legend, 1 Mirren, 4 Raratonga Rose, 6 Fasinada

BEST BET

Race 1 No 4 Asiye Phambili

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 3 Liverpool Legend

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 5x9

BIPOT

R72

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 5, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 6,

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6

Leg 5: 2, 3

Leg 6: 1, 2

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 5, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6

Leg 4: 2, 3

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5

Leg 7: 1, 3, 4

PICK 6

R1280

Leg 1: 2, 3, 6, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2, 3

Leg 4: 1, 2

Leg 5: 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7

JACKPOT 1

R64

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 2, 3

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 7

JACKPOT 2

R80

Leg 1: 2, 3

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7