The Mike de Kock-trained Gin Fizz is probably the best two-year-old filly seen out this season and is living proof her late sire Soft Ralling Rain will be a big loss to the industry.

Soft Falling Rain passed away in September 2018 during his fourth covering season at Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

He had full books and his progeny are sort after.

At the recent Cape Thoroughbred Premier Yearling Sale six of his progeny were sold for a total of R2,15 million with a high of R800,000 and an average of R358,333.

The R800,000 lot was out of a Listed-winning Var mare who is a half-sister to the like of Chesalon, Mardi Gras and Valeta (the dam of She’s A Giver).

Gin Fizz stood out in the parade ring on Sunday as an imposing individual with plenty of substance and presence.

In the running she looked a chip off the old block, displaying a huge stride and winning hands and heels under Gavin Lerena by 7,4 lengths.

Her dam Espumanti, a British-bred by Dansili, won the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over a mile and the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 and she finished second in the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes to the great Beach Beauty.

Ginn Fizz is her first foal.

Gin Fizz should follow in the footsteps of her father by running in either the SA Nursery of the SA Fillies Nursery. Soft Falling Rain, who was by the speed influence National Assembly and was trained by De Kock, won all four of his starts in South Africa from 1000-1160m and won his first three starts in Dubai, where he was named Champion three-year-old Miler. He won the Grade 2 Joel Stakes over a mile at Newmarket in his second start in the UK and the following year finished a length second to the great Variey Club in the defence of his Godolphin Mile crown. In his final start he finished a four length sixth in the Group 1 Queen Ann Stakes over a mile at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Gin Fizz should also get a mile in time.

There have been some other eyecatching two-year-old fillies seen this season like the Candice Bass-Robinson trio Cousin Liz (Captain Al), Miss Honey (Pathfork) and Vandah’s Spirit (Trippi), the Alan Greef-trained Brandina (Capetown Noir) and the Yogas Govender-trained Her Royal Majesty (Great Britain), but none of them have been as impressive as Gin Fizz.  

Soft Falling Rain has seven lots on the forthcoming BSA Cape Yearling Sale on March 17 at the Mistico Equestrian Centre between Durbanville and Paarl.

By David Thiselton