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The well-bred and well-named Dog In The Fog makes his debut for Hollywood Racing and Lucky Fish ambassadors Mike and Mathew de Kock in Race 1 over 1000m at the Vaal on Thursday, one of four runners for the stable.
A four-year-old by Vercingetorix out of Graded-placed Trickster, ‘Dog In The Fog’ is an expression coined by a Heffer family friend and refers to someone who disappears from the bar without saying goodbye. (We all know them, right?)
Mat is hoping that Dog In The Fog will indeed be the ‘life of the party’ at the end of his debut and said: “He’s come to us from Durban as there were not many options in KZN for a 1000m kick-off point on turf. Early on we thought he had a lot of potential, but he had to have knee surgery. He’s over that now, fully matured and doing well. It wouldn’t surprise us if he runs a good race.”
Beautiful Rosie, fourth on her June debut, lines up in Race 2 over 1000m and is considered to have an eachway chance. “Beautiful Rosie was green and did things wrong first time out, but she would have gained from that experience. She is doing well, not fully tuned but is a filly with some ability and a decent run is expected from her after her rest.”
Cool Gambler was impressive winning his Maiden over 1200m at the Vaal in August, though he beat moderate opposition. He returns to the course and distance in Race 4 and Mat said: “He has had a part of the winter off. We’re not sure what his ideal distance will be. He is bred to see out a lot further but we’re starting him off in the sprints due to his aggressive nature. We want to see how he goes first time out of the Maidens. He is doing nicely at home, but it’s hard to predict how he will go. It’s a bit of an educational run for all of us.”
“Apparition was promising as a two-year-old with a win and a place from two starts. She makes her seasonal debut and Mat assessed: “She will make improvement with this run, but she is in good shape and if things go her way she could be involved. Eachway chance.”
