Soft Falling Rain’s progeny fancied
The passing of the stallion Soft Falling Rain in September 2018 was a blow to the country’s bloodstock industry. He was only nine at the time of his death at Wilgerbosdrift Stud.
Strangely, the cause of death of Mike de Kock’s former champion does not appear in any website stories on his passing so we are unsure if it was due to injury or illness.
Soft Falling Rain, a son of National Assembly, enjoyed a magnificent career and won eight races — four as a two-yearold. He was voted Equus champion two-year-old in 2011-12 and champion three-year-old miler in the UAE in 2012-13.
In his short time at stud, Soft Falling Rain’s progeny were popular at bloodstock sales and it is possible he could be responsible for two winners at the Vaal on Thursday.
If his impressive debut win in November is any guide, the stallion’s son Garden Party may have been a shrewd buy by Colin Govindasamy for R200,000. The colt won the 800m dash by nearly three lengths.
On Thursday, Garden Party returns to action and he will be a warm order to win the third race. He has to concede weight to a number of new-comers that include another of Soft Falling Rain’s progeny, Stone Cold.
Slalom Queen, a R300,000 daughter of Querari bred at Lammerskraal Stud, is another well-bred first-timer and the betting market needs to be closely monitored.
Just 30 minutes later, Soft Falling Rain has a chance of another winner with his daughter Makara likely to start favourite. As this inmate of Sean Tarry’s stable has been placed in each of her five starts, she is due a visit to the No 1 box.
A worry for Tarry is that De Kock introduces a well-bred daughter of Captain Al in this 1,200m sprint. Her name is Potency and the three-year-old is a half-sister to the seven-time winner Lazer Star.
As this season’s leading rider, Warren Kennedy, has been booked for Potency this is another case in which the betting market will be informative.
The seventh race on the Vaal card looks particularly competitive and a chance is taken with Paul Matchett’s three-year-old War Jewel.
The gelding raced in a 94 merit-rated handicap last time, but on Thursday drops to 79rated company and should make a bold bid for his second win.
War Jewel’s opposition includes Tarry’s four-year-old River Jordan with the son of Skitt Skizzle chasing a hat-trick after wins at the Vaal and Turffontein.
Five-year-old Norland also brings consistent form into this race.
Roy Magner’s filly The Fifth Wave found the current too strong in the recent Swallow Stakes so will appreciate the drop in class for Thursday’s fifth race. Piere Strydom is an eyecatching booking for the daughter of Crusade.
Kennedy should not be far
away on David Nieuwenhuizen’s runner Glowtoria, while trainer Ashley Fortune’s lightly raced filly Encryption merits consideration for jackpot and Pick Six perms.