Soft Falling Rain dies
The Wilgerbosdrift-based Soft Falling Rain, named Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Colt for 2012-2013, has died.
The Highlands Stud-bred champion was just nine years old at the time of his passing and had been expected to cover a full book of mares in 2018.
Soft Falling Rain was never beaten in South Africa, where he made four starts, including the 2012 Group 1 SA Nursery.
Exported to Dubai (he was later named Champion Miler in the UAE), Soft Falling Rain reeled off three consecutive wins, with his victories including an historic score in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.
Soft Falling Rain became one of just a handful of horses to win in three different countries when he smashed some smart rivals to land the Group 2 Nayef Joel Stakes at Newmarket in 2013.
He ended his racing career having won eight of 13 races and earned over £740 000 in prize money.
Retired to Wilgerbosdrift in 2015, Soft Falling Rain proved instantly popular and was booked full throughout his all too brief stud career. - the process. She impressively beat Fiorella by just under two lengths in her penultimate, and her regular jockey Anthony Delpech who’s ridden her every time, made no secret of how highly he rates her.
“She’s a special filly and she’s got a special place in my heart. I think they’re going to have a lot of fun with her. I’ve always told the owner, she’s a star.”
Unfortunately he is still sidelined due injury and as a result Keagan de Melo will ride. provide buyers with an opportunity to purchase pre-trained, tried-and-tested two-year-olds with a shorter turnaround prior to seeing them on the racetrack. The gallops allow buyers an opportunity to see how the horse moves at full gallop.
“Viewing a horse provides real evidence of the horse’s ability, along with the obligatory scrutinising of pedigree and conformation,” remarks Wéhann Smith, CEO of CTS.
The RTR gallops precede the sale on Thursday 22 November which is soon followed by the CTS Ready to Run Stakes at Kenilworth on 24 November, with a generous R2,5 million stakes on offer to qualifying CTS graduates.
“I believe this year will be no exception when it comes to quality on offer,” says Smith. “The RTR Sale has produced no less than 13 Grade 1 winners in the 5 sales from 2012 to 2016 – with 5 individual Grade 1 winners coming from the 2016 sale alone.”
Top-level performers from 2016 include Bold Respect, Brave Mary, Hero’s Honour, Surcharge and Takingthepeace. That particular crop are now 4-year-olds, so there’s a strong likelihood for even more honours. –