Jack Milner
To indicate how highly Karangetang is rated by his connections, his first four outings were all in feature races.
He made his debut in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein in which he beat Arividicio by 2.50 lengths. Second time out, the son of Erupt ran in the Grade 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m at Turffontein and beat River Queraress by 0.50 lengths.
He then stepped up to the SA Nursery, a Grade 2 event, in which he finished fifth to Miss Cool and followed that up with a try at Grade 1 level in the Gold Medallion over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville where he only faded late to end up 6.35 lengths behind Thunderstruck.
There were some issues in his last two races which is clearly why he was gelded just two days later.
Karangetang made his return on 29 September in a Graduation Plate over 1000m on the Turffontein Inside track where he ran a 3.60-length third to Far Away Winter.
He clearly needed the outing but the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner should be set for his third victory in Race 2, a Graduation Plate over 1000m, at the Vaal on Thursday.
A small field of only seven runners are carded to go to post but it’s a classy field as this Class B contest sees the runners sporting an average merit rating of 89.
Keagan de Melo has ridden this three-year-old in all five of his races and he will remain loyal to Karangetang once again.
With the stable coming off a successful performance at Turffontein last Saturday, including a first and second in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile, it will be tough to back against them.
While Karangetang will take a lot of beating in this line-up, he is not the best weighted runner. That role has gone to Dyce, who is supremely talented but has not raced since winning the Grade 2 Umkhomazi Stakes at Greyville in July 2021.
He is likely to need the run but if anywhere close to his best Lucky Houdalakis’ charge will pose a real threat to Karagetang. S’manga Khumalo is in the irons, so watch the betting.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Run For Cover, 11 Raining Rubies, 10 Sky Velocity, 6 Ngokushesha
Race 2: 3 Karangetang, 1 Dyce, 4 Set To Go, 2 Constable, 6 Mover And Shaker
Race 3: 2 San Quintin, 5 Silly Fella, 3 Eye Of The Prophet, 9 Luthuli
Race 4: 2 Duke Of Sussex, 3 Wolffs World, 5 Climate Control, 8 Kentallen Bay
Race 5: 4 Code Zero, 6 Tabby Kat, 9 Linganomore, 8 Mirren
Race 6: 5 Crusade To Royalty, 3 Cape Bouquet, 1 Last Cheer, 4 Stunning Kitten
Race 7: 3 Queen Of Smoke, 2 Lollapalooza, 5 Meteoric, 1 Gin And Tonic
Race 8: 2 Taikonaut, 6 Existentialist, 5 Spielberg, 7 Power Broker
BEST BET
Race 7 No 3 Queen Of Smoke
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 5 Crusade To Royalty
BEST SWINGER
Race 7 2x3
BIPOT
R162
Leg 1: 7
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5
Leg 5: 4, 6
Leg 6: 1, 3, 5
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5
Leg 3: 2, 3, 5
Leg 4: 4, 6
Leg 5: 1, 3, 5
Leg 6: 3
Leg 7: 2, 6
PICK 6
R900
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8
Leg 3: 4, 6, 9
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 5: 3
Leg 6: 2, 5, 6
JACKPOT 1
R75
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8
Leg 2: 4, 6, 9
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 3
JACKPOT 2
R45
Leg 1: 4, 6, 9
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 2, 5, 6