Dubai World Cup: Soft Falling Rain faces older horses for first time in Godolphin Mile

Trainer Mike de Kock and Godolphin have six of the 16 entrants in the $1 million Godolphin Mile, though de Kock appears to hold the stronger hand.

De Kock’s first stringer is Soft Falling Rain, a South African import who has won the first six starts of his career, including a pair of stakes at Meydan. What Soft Falling Rain has not done is face older horses, and the competition he faces Saturday is substantially better than what he beat in his local wins.

De Kock’s other two are capable. Master of Hounds has run against far better foes during the Meydan season than has Soft Falling Rain, and a step down in class could produce improvement from a horse who handled the Meydan all-weather track. Rerouted, the least regarded of the de Kock trio, has improved by leaps and bounds this winter and can’t be ruled out.

With Godolphin sending 2012 Mile winner African Story to the World Cup, its best hope in the Mile lies with Moonwalk in Paris.