Equus champion and UAE highweight Soft Falling Rain (SAf) (National Assembly-Gardener's Delight, by Giant's Causeway), who carried the Shadwell silks to group victories in three countries including the G1 South African Nursery S. in 2012, has died at the age of nine, Wilgerbosdrift Farm announced. Bred by Highlands Farms Stud, the R350,000 graduate of the 2011 Cape Yearling Sale won his first seven starts-including four in his native land–culminating in his Nursery score en route to South African champion juvenile colt honours in 2012/2013. Named the UAE highweight from 7-9 1/2 furlongs, with wins in the G2 Godolphin Mile and G3 UAE 2000 Guineas, the Mike de Kock trainee added the G2 Joel S. at Newmarket in September of 2013, with his best effort in 2014 a runner-up finish defending his title in the Godolphin Mile.
Retired to Wilgerbosdrift in 2015 with a mark of 13-8-2-0 and earnings of $1,169,015, Soft Falling Rain proved popular and covered full books each year. The half-brother to South African Grade 2 winner Let It Rain (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}) and South African MGSW Splendid Garden (SAf) (Black Minnaloushe) was in demand at the 2018 sales, with his first yearlings having sold up to R1,400,000 (US$94,146/£71,669/€80,736).
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