Rain relative scores impressively!


Wilgerbosdrift’s well performed young sire Soft Falling Rain is from the same family as Monday’s facile winner Tazkeya, who won by 6.75 lengths at Parx racecourse on Monday.

A daughter of Blame, Tazkeya was supported to 9-10 favoritism for the 1100m maiden plate. Stalking a hot opening quarter of :21.73 from third, the baysidled up to longshot pacesetter Comfortable Cat (Discreet Cat) soon after straightening for home, took over from that foe at the furlong grounds and quickly sped clear to a sharp 6 3/4-length tally.

The 3yo Tazkeya, who was making just her second racecourse appearance for owner-breeder Shadwell,  is out of G1 Starlet Stakes/Del Mar Debutante Stakes winner Habibti, who also produced the Breeders’ Cup winning Eldaafer.

Habibti, in turn, is out of a daughter of Quillummo –the third dam of champion Soft Falling Rain.

Soft Falling Rain, who covered an exceptional book of mares last season, was South Africa’s Equus Champion 2YO Colt of 2012, when unbeaten in four starts. Winner of the 2012 G1 SA Nursery, Soft Falling Rain went on to make history when the first 3yo ever to win Dubai’s G2 Godolphin Mile (he was also named Champion Miler in Dubai in 2012-2013) before travelling to Britain to land the G2 Nayef Joel Stakes by three and a half lengths.

Soft Falling Rain, whose half-brother Let It Rain ran third in Sunday’s G3 Track And Ball Derby, is one of 16 G1 winners sired by the Danzig stallion National Assembly.