Thanksgiving is one of the long shots in Saturday’s Gr2 Dingaans at Turffontein but Duncan Howells is quietly confident of a big run from his colt. “He put in an excellent piece of work on Saturday working with Fiorella.

Thanksgiving (Candiese Marnewick)

“It’s seriously tough field but I’ve had this race in mind for some time now and he should be spot on,” said Howells on Tuesday.

Thanksgiving has only won one of his four starts but has shown potential and the Dingaans should show just where he stands in the pecking order.

In his first run out of the maidens he was left with a mountain to climb and only got going late to finish a little over a length back to The Bayou.

He then ran a much better race in the KZN Guineas Trial beaten half-a-length by Stream Ahead. It was a case of win it if you can but there are bigger fish to fry.

Win, lose or draw, Thanksgiving will not be going to Cape Town for the Guineas.

By Andrew Harrison