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International Group winner Soft Falling Rain will return to South Africa to stand at Wilgerbosdrift Farm.

Soft Falling Rain will be syndicated with his original owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai retaining a share following a deal brokered by Form Bloodstock.

Sheikh Hamdan will support Soft Falling Rain with some of his top broodmares.

Soft Falling Rain was bred in South Africa at Highlands Farm.

He is by National Assembly from Gardener’s Delight (Giant’s Causeway) and was a R350,000 yearling at the inaugural Cape Yearling Sale in 2011 when he was purchased for Sheikh Hamdan by Angus Gold and Form Bloodstock.

Soft Falling Rain has won seven of his 13 starts on turf and all-weather tracks in South Africa, Dubai and England for trainer Mike De Kock.

As a two-year-old, he won the G1 SA Nursery at Turffontein by four lengths and ws then exported to Dubai for his three-year-old season where he won the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas and G2 Godolphin Mile.

As a four-year-old, Soft Falling Rain went on to the UK where he won the G2 Joel Stakes over the Newmarket Mile before returning to Dubai where he finished second in this year’s Godolphin Mile to his accomplished stablemate Variety Club.

Soft Falling Rain was shipped back to the UK for his final race in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June where he finished 4 lengths behind Toronado.